SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.20549

FORM 6-K   

Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                                      

30 July 2008


LLOYDS TSB GROUP plc
(Translation of registrant's name into English)

5th Floor
25 Gresham Street
London
EC2V 7HN
United Kingdom

                   
(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F..X..Form 40-F.....


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Yes .....No ..X..

If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule
12g3-2(b): 82- ________

 

Index to Exhibits

Item

No. 1         Regulatory News Service Announcement, dated 30 July 2008
                   re:  Interim Results

 

 

2008 Interim Results

News release



BASIS OF PRESENTATION

 

In order to provide a clearer representation of the Group’s underlying business performance, the results have been presented on a continuing businesses basis. This excludes the following items:

 

·      insurance and policyholder interests volatility (page 49, note 9)

·      a provision in respect of certain historic US dollar payments (page 44, note 6)

·      the results of discontinued businesses (page 56, note 20)

·      profit on sale of businesses (page 42, note 5), and

·      the settlement of overdraft claims.

 

A reconciliation of this basis of presentation to the statutory profit before tax is shown on page 7. In addition, certain commentaries also separately analyse the impact of recent market dislocation on the Group’s Corporate Markets business (‘market dislocation’).

 

Unless otherwise stated the analysis throughout this document compares the half-year ended 30 June 2008 to the half-year ended 30 June 2007.




 

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This announcement contains forward looking statements with respect to the business, strategy and plans of the Lloyds TSB Group, its current goals and expectations relating to its future financial condition and performance. By their nature, forward looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. The Group’s actual future results may differ materially from the results expressed or implied in these forward looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including UK domestic and global economic and business conditions, risks concerning borrower credit quality, market related risks such as interest rate risk and exchange rate risk in its banking business and equity risk in its insurance businesses, changing demographic trends, unexpected changes to regulation, the policies and actions of governmental and regulatory authorities in the UK or jurisdictions outside the UK, including other European countries and the US, exposure to legal proceedings or complaints, changes in customer preferences, competition and other factors. Please refer to the latest Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission for a discussion of such factors. The forward looking statements contained in this announcement are made as at the date of this announcement, and the Group undertakes no obligation to update any of its forward looking statements.


CONTENTS

 

Page 

Key highlights

Group Chief Executive’s statement

Summary of results

Profit analysis by division

Key balance sheet measures

Interim Management Report:

 

–  Group Finance Director’s interim management report

–  Summarised segmental analysis

13 

–  Divisional performance:

 

     • UK Retail Banking

15 

      Insurance and Investments

19 

      Wholesale and International Banking

25 

Condensed interim financial statements:

 

– Consolidated income statement

30 

– Consolidated balance sheet

 31 

– Consolidated statement of changes in equity

32 

– Con solidated cash flow statement

34 

– Notes to the condensed interim financial statements

35 

Statement of directors’ responsibilities

46 

Independent review report

47 

Additional information

48 

Contacts for further information

64 




KEY HIGHLIGHTS

“The first half of 2008 has been a period of considerable turbulence for the financial services sector and this has been compounded by the marked slowdown in the UK economy as a whole. Against this backdrop, Lloyds TSB continued to deliver good growth momentum in all its core businesses and is well positioned for a lower growth environment.

Given this strong performance and our confidence in the Group’s future earnings performance, the board has decided to increase the 2008 interim dividend by per cent to 11.4  pence per share. This increase demonstrates the strength of the Group’s business model, balanced with a level of caution on the outlook for the UK economy.”

Sir Victor Blank
Chairman

 

·     

Good underlying profit momentum. Profit before tax, on a continuing businesses basis, decreased 19 per cent to £1,573 million reflecting the impact of £585 million of market dislocation. Excluding this impact, profit before tax increased by 11 per cent to £2,158 million.


·     

Statutory profit before tax reduced by 70 per cent to £599 million. A strong underlying business performance was offset, largely by the impact of market dislocation and adverse volatility relating to the Group’s insurance businesses (page 7).


 

·     

Strong income growth. Income, excluding market dislocation, grew by 9 per cent reflecting strong revenue growth from the Group’s relationship banking businesses .


 

·     

Excellent cost management. The Group’s cost:inco me ratio, excluding market dislocation, improved by 2 percentage points to 46.6  per cent, reflecting a 4 percentage point difference between income growth and cost growth.


 

·     

Satisfactory credit quality. Retail impairment charge as a percentage of average lending lower than in the first half of 2007. Corporate asset quality also remains good.


 

·     

Strong liquidity and funding position maintained throughout the recent turbulence in global financial markets.


 

·     

Robust capital ratios maintained, with tier  1 capital ratio of 8.6 per cent and core tier 1 ratio of 6.2 per cent .


 

·     

Interim dividend increased by 2 per cent, demonstrating the strength of the Group’s business model, balanced with a level of caution on the outlook for the UK economy.





GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S STATEMENT

In a period of considerable turbulence for the financial services sector and a slowdown in the UK economy, Lloyds  TSB has delivered another strong underlying performance for the first half of 2008. Our results for this period illustrate the strength of our relationship-based strategy and through the cycle business model.

 

On a statutory basis, profit before tax for the first half of 2008 was £599 million
as our strong underlying performance was offset, largely by the impact of market dislocation and volatility relating to our insurance businesses. On a continuing businesses basis, and excluding the impact of market dislocation, which we believe is more reflective of the performance of the Group, profit before tax increased by 11 per cent to £2,158 million. This is a very good performance, delivered in a more challenging environment, and highlights the momentum the Group has achieved across our businesses.

 

A strong track record of delivery

Our first half results build on a strong track record of delivery built up over the last five years as we have consistently executed against our strategy to attract more customers to our franchise businesses, to deepen relationships with these customers over time, to deliver sustainable cost and productivity improvements in our operations and to make the most effective use of all our resources.

 

Excluding market dislocation, each of our three divisions has performed strongly, which has allowed us to further increase market share and profitability in our key product areas.

 

The successful delivery of our strategy,
combined with trusted brands, a prudent approach to risk and a reputation for providing products and services that deliver value to our customers, underpins the Lloyds TSB model and delivers better results for our shareholders.

 

Continued strong growth momentum

The Group showed continued good momentum during the period with income and profit before tax, excluding market dislocation, up across all three divisions and the Group as a whole. All divisions and the Group had wide positive jaws (the rate of income growth exceeding that of cost growth) and this led to a further improvement in our cost:income ratio to 46.6 per cent, two percentage points lower than in the same period last year.

 

Looking forward, we expect a
lower level of growth in the UK economy which will impact our business. However, our relationship based business model, our through the cycle approach to risk and the efficiency of our operation leave us well placed to weather the lower growth environment and indeed continue to grow the business.

 

Our robust capital and strong liquidity position enabled us to continue the strong momentum built up over the last few years. During the first half of 2008 we captured market share in many of our key relationship products and we have done so at higher margins, whilst maintaining good
risk criteria.

 


In the Retail Bank we saw excellent new business flows and achieved first place in the league tables for current accounts, added value accounts and personal loans. Reflecting the strength of our business, we captured a market share of 24.4 per cent of net new lending in the mortgage market, increasing Group balances to £109  billion, and did so at significantly increased new business margins and at an average new loan-to -value ratio of 63 per cent. We opened nearly half a million current accounts during the half-year, the foundation of the customer relationship in our retail business, and increased our average additional cross-sell on account opening to 1.12  products per customer, up from 0.91 products per customer last year.

In the credit card business we continued to see a strong uptake in our Lloyds TSB AirMiles Duo account which now has 1.4 million account holders and is the fastest growing credit card brand in the UK. Over recent years we have placed a strong focus on increasing deposits and our Wealth Management business has performed particularly well with deposits up 25 per cent, closely followed by bank savings, up 19  per cent, over the last 12 months. Across the Retail Bank, deposit balances showed strong growth, up 10 per cent on last year to £85.6  billion.

 

Costs in the retail bank continue to be well managed with our cost:income ratio falling to 45.1 per cent, down from 47.0 per cent, resulting in strong positive jaws and double-digit profit
before tax growth.

 

Insurance and Investments, a core component of Lloyds TSB’s customer relationship based business model, put in a solid performance despite lower sales of equity based savings and investment products. Profit before tax was up 15 per cent in Scottish Widows driven by an increase in new business profit, primarily reflecting an improved mix in protection sales towards higher margin products and an increase in the proportion of insurance based products, with strong sales of both corporate and individual pensions. Growth was driven through the more profitable bancassurance channel with sales up 8 per cent, resulting in an overall increase in market share for Scottish Widows.

 

General Insurance sales continued to grow both in the retail channel and through corporate partnering relationships and
the launch of Essential Business Insurance, a key product for small business customers. Improved profitability was due to lower flood claims, improved claims processes and good cost disciplines.

 

Overall divisional costs decreased year on year by 2 per cent leading to wide positive jaws, a lower cost:income ratio of 41.8 per cent and double-digit profit before tax growth.

In Wholesale and International Banking, profit before tax was down 52 per cent as excellent new business flows and an improved cross sales performance were more than offset by the impact of market dislocation. Whilst we cannot ignore the impact of market dislocation on our business, we believe that it is also informative to look at the underlying performance of the business, excluding market dislocation. On this basis profit before tax was up 22 per cent.

 

In our Corporate business we saw a significant uplift in volumes, resulting from our investment in people and the range of products available. With a premium on the availability of credit we were able to secure a higher proportion of lead manager roles during the period and a higher overall market share. This in turn led to increased cross sales enabling us to increase our share of wallet, at higher margins whilst maintaining our conservative risk profile.


In Commercial Banking we continued our success, with strong growth in business volumes and improvements in operating efficiencies. Growth was spread across both lending and deposit balances, with an increased focus on the more valuable higher turnover businesses where the opportunity for cross sales is greater. Market share increases were achieved with customers across key target markets, reflecting good progress in attracting customers ‘switching’ from other financial services providers. Asset quality in the Commercial portfolio remains strong as a result of our ‘through the cycle’ risk policy, and our continued move towards secured lending which now represents approximately 87 per cent of the portfolio.

 

The period saw increased investment across the wholesale business to increase
the number of front line relationship managers and to provide a more comprehensive product suite for our customers. Whilst this led to an 8 per cent increase in costs, the higher underlying income resulted in wide positive jaws of 10 percentage points and an improved cost:income ratio of 46.4 per cent versus 51.0 per cent last year.

Investing for growth

Investment to support our future growth continues to be a priority for the business. Income is reinvested in the business each year across people, systems, infrastructure and marketing to support new products and services and to drive cross sales income.

 

Key themes for investment include improving access for customers through initiatives such as our new store design and the upgrading of our internet platform, and providing enhanced products and services such as new flexible insurance products and the ‘your finances’ integrated retail sales capability, which increases the effectiveness of our sales teams in front of the customer. Whilst a great deal of our investment is focused towards new products and services, investment is also used to deliver sustained cost and productivity improvements through flexible resourcing, lean processing and procurement initiatives.
We remain on target to deliver £250 million of net cost savings from our productivity programme in 2008 with £118  million delivered in the first half.

Outlook

While we continue to deliver a strong operating and financial performance, there is no doubt that we are entering a period of lower growth for the UK economy. Bank deleveraging and declining property valuations have impacted consumer confidence and contributed to lower growth. The business plans that we adopted last year were based on our assumption that the economy would slow in 2008, and were consistent with our business model which takes a prudent, through the cycle approach to risk. As a result, we have not needed to materially revise our strategy in light of the recent economic trends.

 

Our central forecast for UK economic growth this year remains at the 1.6 per cent we quoted in our 2007 full year results. Our business plans also recognise the potential risk of a more severe economic downturn, and recent events suggest that such a risk has increased. However, we believe that our customer relationship focus, solid cost control and robust risk policies will support continued strong financial performance and good business growth were this to occur.


Well positioned for a lower growth environment

As we move into more uncertain times, our asset portfolios are in good shape, given we have limited exposure to some of the more fragile areas of the economy, such as residential buy-to-let and leveraged loans. In commercial property, our exposures are well managed with strong cash flow coverage and conservative loan-to -value ratios. Whilst we expect arrears and impairments to increase, we believe the impact on the business is manageable. Actions taken include continuous management of our credit criteria, improved and increased collections capability and a move towards more secured lending, whilst also focusing our lending to our franchise customers, where we have a superior understanding of the risk profile.

 

Our approach to risk has meant that we remain well positioned to capture growth opportunities at a time when others have pulled back from the market. As a result, we have been able to capture market share in a number of key areas and at higher margins without impacting the overall quality of our business.


 

Capital and dividend

During the first half of 2008, the Group has continued to make progress in delivering strong underlying revenue growth, whilst increasing room for investment in building the business, and this has been supported by strong cost disciplines. Our capital management is strong and our capital ratios remain robust and are sufficient to support our current organic growth plans.

 

As a result of its confidence in the Group’s future performance, the board has decided to increase the 2008 interim dividend by 2 per cent to 11.4p per share. This increase demonstrates the strength of the Group’s business model, balanced with a level of caution reflecting the slowing UK economic environment.

People

Underpinning these positive results and the progress made against our business objectives are our people. I  would like to thank them for their continued dedication, professionalism and commitment which makes such a big difference to our business performance, and gives me confidence that we will continue to deliver strong operating and financial results in the months and years ahead.

 

 

 

J Eric Daniels

Group Chief Executive


SUMMARY OF RESULTS

 

Half-year  to 30 June  2008 

Half-year  to 30 June 
2007 

 

Change 

Half-year to
31 Dec  

2007 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

 

£m 

                 

Results – statutory

             

 

Total income, net of insurance claims

 

4,628 

 

5,590 

 

(17)

 

5,116 

Operating expenses

 

2,930 

 

2,760 

 

(6)

 

2,807 

Trading surplus

 

1,698  

 

2,830 

 

(40)

 

2,309 

Impairment

 

1,099 

 

837 

 

(31)

 

959 

Profit before tax

 

599 

 

1,993 

 

(70)

 

2,007 

Profit attributable to equity shareholders

 

576 

 

1,540 

 

(63)

 

1,749 

Economic profit (page 57, note 21)

 

58 

 

1,027 

     

1,211 

Earnings per share (page 57, note 22)

 

10.2p 

 

27.3p 

 

(63)

 

31.0p 

Post-tax return on average shareholders’ equity

 

10.0% 

 

27.0% 

     

29.3% 

Proposed dividend per share (page 63, note 26)

 

11.4p 

 

11.2p 

 

 

24.7p 

             
             

Results – continuing businesses basis

           

Total income, net of insurance claims

     

 

       

- Before impact of market dislocation

 

5,899 

 

5,392 

 

 

5,678 

- Impact of market dislocation

 

(477)

 

     

(188)

   

5,422 

 

5,392 

 

 

5,490  

Operating expenses

 

2,750 

 

2,618  

 

(5)

 

2,712 

Trading surplus

               

- Before impact of market dislocation

 

3,149 

 

2,774 

 

14 

 

2,966 

- Impact of market dislocation

 

(477)

 

     

(188)

   

2,672 

 

2,774  

 

(4)

 

2,778 

Impairment

               

- Before impact of market dislocation

 

991 

 

837 

 

(18)

 

867 

- Impact of market dislocation

 

108 

 

     

92 

   

1,099 

 

837 

 

(31)

 

959 

Profit before tax

             

 

- Before impact of market dislocation

 

2,158 

 

1,937 

 

11 

 

2,099 

- Impact of market dislocation

 

(585)

 

     

(280)

   

1,573 

 

1,937  

 

(19)

 

1,819 

                 

Profit attributable to equity shareholders

 

1,109 

 

1,454 

 

(24)

 

1,285 

Economic profit

 

613 

 

951 

 

(36)

 

774 

Earnings per share

 

19.6p 

 

25.8p  

 

(24)

 

22.8p  

Post-tax return on average shareholders’ equity

 

20.1

 

26.0% 

     

22.6%  

                 



PROFIT ANALYSIS BY DIVISION

 

Half-year  to 30 June  2008 

Half-year  to 30 June 
2007
 

 

Change 

 

Half-year  to 31 Dec 
2007
 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

 

£m 

                 

UK Retail Banking (page   15 )

 

911 

 

793 

 

15 

 

927  

                 

Insurance and Investments (page   19)

 

431 

 

330 

 

31 

 

418  

                 

Wholesale and International Banking (page  25 )

               

- Before impact of market dislocation

 

960 

 

789 

 

22 

 

791 

- Impact of market dislocation

 

(585)

 

     

(280)

   

375 

 

789 

 

(52)

 

511  

Central group items

 

(144)

 

25 

     

(3 7)

Profit before tax - continuing businesses

               

- Before impact of market dislocation

 

2,158 

 

1,937 

 

11 

 

2,099 

- Impact of market dislocation

 

(585)

 

     

(280)

   

1,573 

 

1,937 

 

(19)

 

1,819 

Volatility (page  49, note   9)

               

- Insurance

 

(505)

 

     

(286 )

- Policyholder interests (page  50 , note  9)

 

(289)

 

(63 )

     

(159 )

Discontinued businesses (page  56, note  20)

 

 

146  

     

16 

Profit on sale of businesses (page 42, note 5)

 

 

     

657 

Provision in respect of certain historic US dollar payments

 

(180)

 

     

Settlement of overdraft claims

 

 

(36)

     

(40)

Profit before tax - statutory

 

599 

 

1,993 

 

(70)

 

2,007 

Taxation (page  44, note 7)

 

(11)

 

(433)

     

(246)

Profit for the period

 

588 

 

1,560 

 

(62)

 

1,761 

                 

Profit attributable to minority interests

 

12 

 

20 

     

12 

Profit attributable to equity shareholders

 

576 

 

1,540 

 

(63)

 

1,749 

Earnings per share (page 57, note  22)

 

10.2p

 

27.3p 

 

(63)

 

31.0p 

                 


Segmental analyses for 2007 have been restated as explained in note 2.

KEY BALANCE SHEET MEASURES

 

30 June  2008 

30 June  2007  

 

Change 

 

31 Dec 
2007 

   

£m  

 

£m 

 

 

£m 

Balance sheet

               

Shareholders’ equity

 

10,797 

 

11,373 

 

(5)

 

12,141 

Net assets per share

 

187p 

 

199p 

 

(6)

 

212p 

Total assets

 

367,782 

 

353,095 

 

 

353,346 

Risk-weighted assets (Basel  II basis)

 

153,873 

 

n/a 

 

 

 

142,567 

Loans and advances to customers

 

229,621 

 

200,181 

 

15 

 

209,814 

Customer deposits

 

162,129 

 

144,654 

 

12 

 

156,555 

                 

Risk asset ratios (Basel II basis)

               

Total capital

 

11.3% 

 

n/a 

     

11.0% 

Tier 1 capital

 

8.6% 

 

n/a 

     

9.5% 

Core tier 1 capital

 

6.2% 

 

n/a 

     

7.4% 




GROUP FINANCE DIRECTOR’S INTERIM MANAGEMENT REPORT

In the first half of 2008 the Group delivered a resilient performance against the backdrop of significant turbulence in global financial markets and a marked slowdown in the UK economic environment. Statutory profit attributable to equity shareholders however decreased by 63 per cent to £576 million and earnings per share decreased by 63 per cent to 10.2p, reflecting the impact of the recent market dislocation and insurance volatility, caused by lower equity markets and wider credit spreads in fixed income markets. Profit before tax fell by 70 per cent to £599 million.

 

To enable meaningful comparisons to be made with
the first half of 2007, the income statement commentaries below are on a continuing businesses basis (see ‘basis of presentation’). In addition, certain commentaries also exclude the impact of market dislocation in our Corporate Markets business.

 

Building strong customer relationships

Lloyds TSB’s strategy to build strong customer franchises and grow our business by realising the considerable potential within those franchises continues to deliver strong results. We have continued to extend the reach and depth of our customer relationships, achieving good sales growth, whilst also improving productivity and efficiency. The underlying performance of the business, excluding the impact of market dislocation, remains strong with revenue growth remaining well ahead of cost growth.

 

Like many other financial institutions, the Group’s Corporate Markets business has been
affected by the recent market dislocation; however, the relationship focus of our strategy has meant that the impact on the Group’s profit before tax was limited to £585 million in the first half of 2008 (£477  million reduction in income; £108 million increase in impairment). This largely reflects the impact of continuing mark-to-market adjustments in certain legacy trading portfolios, resulting from the marketwide repricing of liquidity and credit, together with the write-down of a number of Asset Backed Securities and Structured Investment Vehicle Capital Notes. Notably, even after fully absorbing this impact, Wholesale and International Banking profit before tax of £375 million was down only 52 per cent from last year’s record first half performance.

 

The Group continues to maintain a strong funding and liquidity profile and has continued to fund at market leading rates, with the overall margin impact of funding the Group’s balance sheet remaining broadly unchanged. However, the Group has benefited from improvements in a number of individual product margins, particularly in new mortgages and corporate lending. The Group’s core relationship businesses have also benefited from our strong credit ratings, relative balance sheet strength and funding capability and this has resulted in increased opportunities over the last six months to grow the Group’s customer franchises.

Continued momentum throughout the business

Profit before tax, excluding the impact of the £585 million market dislocation, increased by £221 million, or 11 per cent, to £2,158 million, underpinned by good relationship banking momentum. On this basis, revenue growth of 9 per cent exceeded cost growth of 5 per cent, with each division delivering stronger revenue growth than cost growth.

 

Good income growth

Overall income growth of 9 per cent, excluding the impact of market dislocation, reflects good progress in delivering our divisional strategies. We have increased income from both new and existing customers, with strong growth in both assets and liabilities, as well as an increase in fee-related income.


Group net interest income, excluding insurance grossing (page 13), increased by £632 million, or 23 per cent, to £3,329 million. Over the last 12 months, total assets increased by 4 per cent to £368 billion, with a 15 per cent increase in loans and advances to customers, reflecting strong levels of customer lending growth in Commercial Banking, Corporate Markets and mortgages. Customer deposits increased by 12 per cent to £162 billion, supported by strong growth in savings balances in the retail bank, where bank savings increased by 19 per cent and wealth management balances by 25 per cent. Customer deposits in our Corporate Markets, Commercial and International businesses increased by 16 per cent.

The net interest margin from our banking businesses (page  51, note  11) increased by 8 basis points, to 2.82 per cent , as improved product margins offset an adverse mix effect. Overall product margins were 13 basis points higher, reflecting stronger new business product margins in the mortgage and corporate businesses. Stronger growth in finer margin mortgages and flat wider margin unsecured consumer lending contributed to the negative mix effect which reduced the overall margin by 6 basis points. Overall central funding costs not reflected in product margins were broadly stable, improving the margin by 1 basis point .

 

Other
income, net of insurance claims and excluding insurance grossing, decreased by £604 million, or 23 per cent, to £2,073 million , largely reflecting the impact of market dislocation. In the retail bank, higher fees and commissions receivable as a result of good growth in added value current accounts and card services were offset by lower creditor insurance commissions and the impact of changes in product design leading to a greater proportion of earnings being recognised as net interest income rather than fee income. In addition, good levels of growth were achieved in fee based product sales to commercial banking customers.

Excellent cost management

The Group continues to invest in improving processing efficiency, resulting in continued tight control over costs. During the first half of 2008, operating expenses increased by 5 per cent to £2,750 million. Over the last 12 months, staff numbers have fallen by 953 (2 per cent ) to 58,493, largely as a result of further efficiency improvements in back-office processing centres. These improvements in operational effectiveness have resulted in a further reduction in the Group cost:income ratio, excluding market dislocation, from 48.6 per cent to 46.6 per cent . The Group’s programme of productivity initiatives has continued to deliver significant benefits, improving underlying cost efficiency and creating greater headroom for further investment in the business, and the Group remains on track to deliver its expected net cost benefits of approximately £250 million in 2008 from this programme.

 

Overall credit quality remains satisfactory

In UK Retail Banking, impairment losses increased by £28 million, or 4 per cent, to £655 million , largely reflecting the impact of lower house prices on the mortgage impairment charge. In terms of unsecured lending, our asset quality remains good and our current arrears performance remains satisfactory. As a result, we do not expect the retail unsecured impairment charge in 2008 to significantly exceed the unsecured impairment charge in 2007. However, in the context of the uncertain UK economic environment and the potential for increased consumer arrears and insolvencies, we are continuing to enhance our underwriting, collections and fraud prevention procedures.


The asset quality of our mortgage portfolio has remained excellent, with arrears levels up 3 per cent compared to a year ago. However, the current difficult economic environment has eroded the improved arrears performance of the latter part of 2007 and means that arrears levels have increased slightly over the last six months, a trend that is expected to continue. The fall in the house price index during the first half has however led to an increase of £36 million in the house price index related charge for impairments in the first half of the year. Looking forward, our view is for a fall in the house price index of between 10 and 15 per cent during 2008. Were the index to fall by, for example, 12.5 per cent this year, we might expect the house price index related impact on the impairment charge in the second half of 2008 to be approximately £100 million.

The Wholesale and International Banking charge for impairment losses increased by £234 million to £444 million, including a £108 million impairment charge relating to the impact of market dislocation in the first half of 2008. The remaining charge reflects a modest increase in the level of impairments as a result of the economic slowdown in the UK, the impact of recent growth rates in Corporate lending and higher impairment from provisions against a small number of specific situations.

 

Overall, impairment losses increased by 31 per cent to £1,099 million. Our impairment charge on loans and advances expressed as an annualised percentage of average lending was 0.89 per cent , excluding the impact of market dislocation, compared to 0.82 per cent in the first half of 2007 (excluding the impact of the 2007 Finance Act) (page  54, note  16). Impaired assets increased by 21 per cent to £6,097 million and now represent 2.6 per cent of total lending, up from 2.5 per cent at 30  June 2007.

 

Limited exposure to assets affected by current capital markets uncertainties

Whilst no bank has been immune to the impact of the recent turbulence in global financial markets, Lloyds TSB’s high quality business model means that the Group’s Corporate Markets business has relatively limited exposure to assets affected by current capital markets uncertainties (page 40, note  4).

US sub-prime Asset Backed Securities (ABS) and ABS Collateralised Debt Obligations (CDOs)

Lloyds TSB has no direct exposure to US sub-prime ABS and limited indirect exposure through ABS CDOs. During the first half of 2008, the market value of our holdings in ABS CDOs reduced and, as a result, the Group has taken an income statement charge of £62 million, leaving a residual investment of £70 million, net of hedges. The Group’s residual investment of £70 million is stated net of credit default swap (CDS) protection totalling £297 million purchased from a monoline financial guarantor. At 30 June 2008, the underlying assets supported by this protection had fallen in value. During the first half of 2008, the Group has written down the value of this protection by £170 million, following a rating agency downgrade to the financial guarantor and consequent increased protection costs, leaving a reliance on the CDS protection totalling £121 million. The Group has no exposure to mezzanine ABS CDOs. In addition, we have £1,382 million (31 December 2007: £1,861 million) of ABS CDOs which are fully cash collateralised by major global financial institutions.

 

Structured Investment Vehicles (SIVs)

During the first half of 2008 the Group wrote down the value of its SIV assets by £46  million, leaving a residual exposure to SIV Capital Notes at 30  June 200 8 of £35  million. Additionally, at 30  June  2008 the Group had commercial paper back up liquidity facilities totalling £85 million (31 December 2007: £370 million), of which £22 million had been drawn. During July 2008, these liquidity facilities were reduced to £22 million, fully drawn. The Group has no SIV-Lite exposure.

Scottish Widows has no exposure to US sub-prime ABS either directly or indirectly through CDOs. At 30 June 2008, the Group’s exposure to short-dated SIV commercial paper through Scottish Widows totalled £7 million. All of Scottish Widows’ short-dated SIV instruments that have matured over the last 12 months have done so at expected value.


Trading portfolio

In the first half of 2008, Corporate Markets also saw a reduction in profit before tax of £307 million as a result of the impact of mark-to-market adjustments in certain legacy trading portfolios, to reflect the marketwide repricing of liquidity and credit. At 30  June 2008 the trading portfolio contained £173   million of indirect exposure to US sub-prime mortgages and ABS CDOs. This super senior exposure is protected by note subordination.

Available-for-sale assets

At 30  June 2008, the Group’s portfolio of available-for-sale assets totalled £25,032  million (31 December 2007: £20,196   million ) of which £24,414 million (31 December 2007: £19,662 million ) were held in Corporate Markets. A significant proportion of these Corporate Markets assets (£7,645 m illion) related to the ABS in Cancara, our hybrid Asset  Backed Commercial Paper conduit. The residual assets comprised £3,231 m illion Student Loan ABS, predominantly guaranteed by the US  Government, £8,342 m illion government bond and short-dated bank commercial paper and certificates of deposit and £5,196  million major bank senior paper and high quality ABS. Although the Group expects to hold its available-for-sale assets until maturity, temporary mark-to-market adjustments are required to be taken through reserves. During the first half of 2008, a net £630  million reserves adjustment, which has no impact on the Group’s capital ratios, has been made to reflect a reduction in the value of available-for-sale assets.

Total assets in Cancara were £11,653 m illion at 30 June 2008, comprising £7,645   million ABS and £4,008  million client receivables transactions. Cancara, which is fully consolidated in the Group’s accounts, is managed in a very conservative manner, and this is demonstrated by the quality and ratings stability of its underlying asset portfolio. At 30  June 200 8, the ABS bonds in Cancara were 92 per cent Aaa/AAA rated by Moody’s and Standard &  Poor’s respectively, and there was no exposure either directly or indirectly to sub-prime US mortgages within the ABS portfolio. At 30  June 200 8 the client receivables portfolio included no US sub-prime mortgage exposure.

Insurance volatility

In the first half of 2008, high levels of volatility and wider credit spreads in fixed income markets and significantly lower equity markets contributed to adverse volatility of £505 million relating to the insurance business. This principally reflects a reduction in the market consistent valuation of the annuity portfolio, driven by the continued widening of corporate bond spreads in the first half of 2008, and lower expected future shareholder income from contracts where the underlying policyholder investments are in equities.

Provision relating to certain historic US dollar payments

As previously reported, the Group has provided information relating to certain historic US dollar payments to a number of authorities including The Office of Foreign Assets Control, the US Department of Justice and the New York County District Attorney’s office. The Group is involved in ongoing discussions with these and other authorities with respect to agreeing a resolution of their investigations. Discussions have advanced towards resolution since the year end and the Group has provided £180 million in respect of this matter in the first half of 2008.

Taxation charge

The Group’s tax charge for the first half of 2008 was £11 million, which was an effective tax rate of 1.8 per cent. This low effective tax rate, compared to the standard UK corporation tax rate, reflects a significant policyholder interests related tax credit reflecting a charge for policyholder interests within the Group’s profit before tax as a result of the fall in property, gilt, bond and equity values (page 44, note 7).


Robust capital position

At the end of June 2008, the Group’s capital ratios remained robust with a total capital ratio on a Basel  II basis of 11.3 per cent, a tier 1 ratio of 8.6 per cent and a core tier 1 ratio of 6.2 per cent (page 55, note 18). During the first half of the year, the Group issued capital instruments totalling £2.6 billion, however the Group’s capital ratios have also been affected by the impact of adverse insurance volatility, market dislocation, the timing of dividend payments and also reflect good levels of balance sheet growth. Over the last six months, risk-weighted assets increased by 8 per cent to £154 billion, reflecting strong growth in our mortgage and Corporate Markets businesses.

 

Scottish Widows remains strongly capitalised and, at the end of June 2008, the working capital ratio of the Scottish Widows Long Term Fund was an estimated 19.9 per cent (page  58, note  23). During the first half of 2008 a dividend of £0.2   billion was paid to the Group, bringing the total capital repatriation since the beginning of 2005 to over £3.8 billion. In June 2008 Standard & Poor’s announced that it had re-affirmed its Scottish Widows ‘AA-’ debt rating, which remains on positive outlook.

Maintaining a strong liquidity and funding position

The current dislocation in global capital markets has been a severe examination of the banking system’s capacity to absorb sudden significant changes in the funding and liquidity environment, and individual institutions have faced varying degrees of stress. Throughout the market dislocation, the Group has maintained a strong liquidity position for both the Group’s funding requirements, which are supported by our strong and stable retail and corporate deposit base, and those of its sponsored conduit, Cancara. Retail and corporate deposit inflows have been strong and the Group continues to benefit from its strong credit ratings and diversity of funding sources. In January 2008, Moody’s announced that it had re-affirmed its ‘Aaa’ long-term debt rating for Lloyds TSB Bank plc, and in June 2008 Standard & Poor’s announced that it has re–affirmed its ‘AA’ long-term debt rating for the Bank.

Delivering strong underlying earnings momentum

The first half of 2008 has been a challenging period for all banks, however Lloyds TSB’s high quality, more conservative business model remains well positioned to withstand the difficulties of global financial markets turbulence and the marked slowdown in the economic environment. The Group remains well positioned to continue to leverage its strong balance sheet and funding capability in this challenging environment. A summary of the principal risks and uncertainties that the Group is likely to face in the second half is provided in note 8 on page 45. There have been no material or unusual related party transactions during the half-year (page 36, note 1).

 

Strong earnings momentum has continued in the retail banking and insurance businesses, as well as our relationship focused Corporate and Commercial businesses. These strong performances have resulted in a good level of income growth which, combined with excellent cost control, has resulted in good underlying profit momentum. The Group has continued to maintain satisfactory overall asset quality and a robust capital position. As a result, the Group is well placed to maintain the recent core business momentum established, and we expect to continue to perform well in the second half of 2008.

 

Tim Tookey

Acting Group Finance Director


SUMMARISED SEGMENTAL ANALYSIS

Half-year to
30 June 2008

UK 
Retail 
Banking 

Insurance 
and 

Investments **

Wholesale 
and 

International 

Banking 

Central 
group 
items 

Group 
excluding 
insurance 
gross up 

Insurance 
gross up** 

Group 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

                           

Net interest income

1,990 

 

(33)

 

1,450 

 

(78)

 

3,329 

 

313 

 

3,642 

Other income

862 

 

846 

 

489 

 

(34)

 

2,163 

 

(1,727)

 

436 

Total income

2,852 

 

813 

 

1,939 

 

(112)

 

5,492 

 

(1,414)

 

4,078 

Insurance claims

 

(90)

 

 

 

(90)

 

1,434 

 

1,344 

Total income, net of
insurance claims

2,852 

 

723 

 

1,939 

 

(112)

 

5,402 

 

20 

 

5,422 

Operating expenses

(1,286)

 

(302)

 

(1,120)

 

(32)

 

(2,740)

 

(10)

 

(2,750)

Trading surplus (deficit)

1,566 

 

421 

 

819 

 

(144)

 

2,662 

 

10 

 

2,672 

Impairment

(655)

 

 

(444)

 

 

(1,099)

 

 

(1,099)

Profit (loss) before tax *

911 

 

421 

 

375 

 

(144)

 

1,563 

 

10 

 

1,573 

Volatility

                         

- Insurance

 

( 50 5 )

 

 

 

(5 05)

 

 

(5 05)

- Policyholder interests

 

 

 

 

 

( 289)

 

(2 89)

Provision in respect of certain historic US dollar payments

 

 

(180)

 

 

(180)

 

 

(180)

Profit (loss) before tax

911 

 

( 84 )

 

195 

 

(144)

 

878  

 

(279 )

 

5 99 



Half-year to
30 June 2007

UK 
Retail 
Banking 

Insurance 
and 

Investments**

Wholesale 
and 

International 

Banking 

Central 
group 
items 

Group 
excluding 
insurance 
gross up 

Insurance 
gross up** 

Group 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

                           

Net interest income

1,798 

 

(56)

 

1,109 

 

(154)

 

2,697 

 

100 

 

2,797 

Other income

883 

 

833 

 

931 

 

182 

 

2,829 

 

3,380 

 

6,209 

Total income

2,681 

 

777 

 

2,040 

 

28 

 

5,526 

 

3,480 

 

9,006 

Insurance claims

 

(152)

 

 

 

(152)

 

(3,462)

 

(3,614)

Total income, net of
insurance claims

2,681 

 

625 

 

2,040 

 

 28 

 

5,374 

 

18 

 

5,392 

Operating expenses

(1,261)

 

(307)

 

(1,041)

 

(3)

 

(2,612)

 

(6)

 

(2,618)

Trading surplus

1,420 

 

318 

 

999 

 

 25 

 

2,762 

 

12 

 

2,774 

Impairment

(627)

 

 

(210)

 

 

(837)

 

 

(837)

Profit before tax *

793 

 

318 

 

789 

 

25 

 

1,925 

 

12 

 

1,937 

Volatility

                         

- Insurance

 

 

 

 

 

 

- Policyholder interests

 

 

 

 

 

(63)

 

(63)

Discontinued businesses

 

119 

 

22 

 

 

141 

 

 

146  

Settlement of overdraft claims

  (36)

 

 

 

 

(36 )

 

 

(36)

Profit (loss) before tax

757 

 

446 

 

811 

 

25 

 

2,039 

 

(46)

 

1,993 




SUMMARISED SEGMENTAL ANALYSIS (continued)

Half-year to
31 December 2007

UK 
Retail 
Banking 

Insurance 
and 

Investments**

Wholesale 
and 

International 

Banking 

Central 
group 
items 

Group 
excluding 
insurance 
gross up 

Insurance 
gross up** 

Group 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

                           

Net interest income

1,897 

 

(50)

 

1,271 

 

(214)

 

2,904 

 

321 

 

3,225 

Other income

914 

 

908 

 

713 

 

180 

 

2,715 

 

2,853 

 

5,568 

Total income

2,811 

 

858 

 

1,984 

 

(34)

 

5,619 

 

3,174 

 

8,793 

Insurance claims

 

(150)

 

 

 

(150)

 

(3,153)

 

(3,303)

Total income, net of
insurance claims

2,811 

 

708 

 

1,984 

 

(34)

 

5,469 

 

21 

 

5,490 

Operating expenses

(1,287)

 

(304)

 

(1,111)

 

(3)

 

(2,705)

 

(7)

 

(2,712)

Trading surplus (deficit)

1,524 

 

404 

 

873 

 

(37)

 

2,764 

 

14 

 

2,778 

Impairment

(597)

 

 

(362)

 

 

(959)

 

 

(959)

Profit (loss) before tax*

927 

 

404 

 

511 

 

(37)

 

1,805 

 

14 

 

1,819 

Volatility

                         

- Insurance

 

 (286)

 

 

 

 (286)

 

 

 (286)

- Policyholder interests

 

 

 

 

 

 (159)

 

(159)

Discontinued businesses

 

26 

 

 

 

32 

 

(16)

 

16 

Profit on sale of businesses

 

272 

 

385 

 

 

657 

 

 

657 

Settlement of overdraft claims

(40)

 

 

 

 

(40)

 

 

(40)

Profit (loss) before tax

887 

 

416 

 

902 

 

(37)

 

2,168 

 

(161)

 

2,007 

                           


*Excluding volatility, results of discontinued businesses, profit on sale of businesses, a provision in respect of certain historic US dollar payments and the settlement of overdraft claims.
 

**The Group’s income statement includes income and expenditure which are attributable to the policyholders of the Group’s long-term assurance funds. These items have no impact upon the profit attributable to equity shareholders. In order to provide a clearer representation of the underlying trends within the Insurance and Investments segment, these items are shown within a separate column in the segmental analysis above.
 

Segmental analyses for 2007 have been restated as explained in note 2.

In the first half of 2008 the contribution from Central group items was a negative £144 million compared to a positive contribution of £25 million in the same period in 2007. The result in 2008 has been dominated by the impact of volatility in the yield curve upon the fair value of derivatives entered into for risk management purposes, after taking into account the effect of hedge accounting adjustments. The cost of hedging the subordinated debt issued during the period has also contributed to the loss incurred.


DIVISIONAL PERFORMANCE

UK RETAIL BANKING

 

Half-year  to 30 June  2008 

Half-year  to 30 June 
2007
 

 

Change 

 

Half-year  to 31 Dec 
2007
 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

 

£m 

                 

Net interest income

 

1,990 

 

1,798  

 

11 

 

1,897  

Other income

 

862 

 

883 

 

(2)

 

914 

Total income

 

2,852 

 

2,681  

 

 

2,811  

Operating expenses

 

(1,286)

 

(1,261)

 

(2)

 

(1,287)

Trading surplus

 

1,566 

 

1,420  

 

10 

 

1,524  

Impairment

 

(655)

 

(627)

 

(4)

 

(597)

Profit before tax, excluding settlement of overdraft claims

 

911 

 

793 

 

15 

 

927  

Settlement of overdraft claims

 

 

(36)

     

(40)

Profit before tax

 

911 

 

757 

 

20 

 

887 

                 

Cost:income ratio*

 

45.1%  

 

47 .0

     

45.8

                 

Total assets

 

£ 122.5bn 

 

£112.7 bn 

 

 

£115.0bn 

Customer deposits

 

£85.6bn 

 

£78.0bn 

 

10 

 

£82.1bn 

                 


*Excluding settlement of overdraft claims.

Restated, see note 2.

Key highlights

·     

Excellent profit performance, against a slowdown in economic activity. Profit before tax increased by 15  per cent to £911  million, excluding the settlement of overdraft claims.


·     

Strong income momentum maintained, up 6 per cent , supported by overall sales growth of 8 per cent.


·     

Strong growth in deposits resulted in a 10 per cent increase in deposit balances, with 19 per cent growth in bank savings.


·     

Excellent market share of net new mortgage lending, estimated at 24.4 per cent in the first half of the year.


·     

Improved net interest margin, with net interest margin in the first half of 2008 8 basis point s higher than the first half of 2007, reflecting improved key product margins, particularly in new mortgages and unsecured personal lending.


·     

Continued good cost management, with a clear focus on investing to improve service quality and processing efficiency. Excluding the impact of the settlement of overdraft claims, operating expenses increased by only 2  per  cent and there was an improvement in the cost:income ratio to 45.1 per cent .


·     

The quality of new lending continues to be strong, reflecting the continued tightening of credit policy. The impairment charge as a percentage of average lending in the first half of 2008 was lower than in the same period in 2007 .





UK RETAIL BANKING (continued)

During the first half of 2008, UK Retail Banking continued to make substantial progress in each of its key strategic priorities: growing income from its existing customer base; expanding its customer franchise; and improving productivity and efficiency. In each of these areas, a key focus has been on sales of recurring income products, such as current accounts and savings products which, combined with higher lending related income, has supported the strong rate of revenue growth.

Profit before tax from UK Retail Banking increased by £154  million, or 20 per cent, to £911 million, reflecting strong levels of franchise growth, excellent cost management and a slightly higher impairment charge. Excluding the settlement of overdraft claims, profit before tax increased by 15 per cent to £911 million. Total income increased by £171 million, or per cent, whilst operating expenses remained well controlled, increasing by per cent.

Growing income from the customer base

The r etail b ank has continued to make excellent progress, delivering strong product sales growth and revenue momentum, notwithstanding the challenging UK economic environment. Overall sales increased by 8 per cent, with improvements over a broad range of products. Sales volumes were particularly strong in the internet channel with an increase of 49  per cent and now amount to 10 per cent of overall product sales. The continued strong sales growth has been driven by strong levels of growth in mortgages, personal loans, bank savings and wealth management products. Our market share of new business in these key product areas has continued to increase, as the retail bank has successfully leveraged the benefit of the Group’s strong balance sheet to support increasing customer sales.

 

Customer deposits have increased strongly, by 10 per cent over the last 12  months, with particularly strong progress in growing our relationship focused bank savings and wealth management deposit balances, with increases of 19 per cent and 25 per cent respectively. Our Cash ISA product was extremely successful, with almost 350,000 Cash ISA’s sold in the first half of the year, and total cash ISA deposits were five times those taken in the whole of 2007.

 

30 June  2008 

30 June 
2007 

 

Change 

31 Dec 
2007 

Current account and savings balances

£m 

 

£m 

 

 

£m 

                 

Bank savings

 

45,165 

 

38,062 

 

19 

 

41,976 

C&G deposits

 

13,964 

 

14,502 

 

(4)

 

14,861 

Wealth management

 

5,916 

 

4,737 

 

25 

 

4,939 

UK Retail Banking savings

 

65,045 

 

57,301 

 

14 

 

61,776 

Current accounts

 

20,594 

 

20,684 

 

 

20,305 

Total customer deposits

 

85,639 

 

77,985 

 

10 

 

82,081 



Over the last 12 months, the Group has made significant progress in building its mortgage business, in a mortgage market that has slowed considerably. We are currently expecting UK net new mortgage lending for 2008 to total approximately £60 billion, compared to £108 billion in 2007. The Group continues to focus on those segments of the prime mortgage market where value can be created whilst taking a conservative approach to credit risk. Lloyds TSB has long adopted an approach of managing for a value, targeting growth in profitable new business rather than overall market share. This approach, together with a recent material uplift in interest spreads, has led to new business net interest margins strengthening significantly.


UK RETAIL BANKING (continued)

 

Gross new mortgage lending for the Group
increased by 5 per cent to £16.8  billion (2007H1: £ 16.0 billion), with the mortgage market being supported predominantly by re-mortgage activity. This represents a substantial increase in our share of gross lending to 11.3 per cent (2007H1:9.0 per cent). This, in conjunction with a reduction in the Group’s share of mortgage redemptions, has led to a significant increase in our market share of net new lending to approximately 24.4  per cent. Mortgage balances outstanding increased by 9 per cent to £109.3  billion.

In June 2008 the Group announced that it has entered into a three year agreement with Northern Rock, whereby certain Northern Rock mortgage customers approaching the end of their fixed rate period will be offered the opportunity to switch to a Lloyds TSB mortgage. The agreement with Northern Rock is consistent with our strategy of building our core franchise and deepening relationships with customers. It will allow the Group to accelerate new business growth in a low risk manner.

Despite tightened credit criteria and a slowdown in consumer demand, we have maintained our market leading position in personal loans, growing our market share of the unsecured personal loans market whilst remaining primarily focused on our current account customer base. Unsecured consumer credit balances were broadly flat with personal loan balances outstanding at 30  June 200 8 up 6 per cent at £11.8  billion, whilst credit card balances fell slightly to £6.5  billion.

 

Expanding the customer franchise

In addition to the strong growth in product sales from existing customers, the Group has continued to make progress in expanding its customer franchise. The retail bank opened nearly half a million new current accounts during the first half of the year, supported by an updated range of added value current accounts with enhanced product features.

Wealth management continues to make good progress with its expansion plans to deliver an enhanced wealth management offer comprising private banking, open architecture portfolio management, retirement planning, insurance and estate planning services. New funds under management increased by 40 per cent, Investment Portfolio cases grew by 17  per cent and wealth management banking deposits increased by 25 per cent. As a result, despite a 15 per cent reduction in the FTSE 100 index, total customer assets increased by 7 per cent .

The demand for the Lloyds TSB Airmiles Duo credit card account, which was launched in the middle of 2007, has continued to be extremely strong, with 1.4 million customers now signed up to use the account. Duo customers tend to be higher quality, more transactional customers. As a result, Lloyds TSB has maintained its position as a UK market leader in new credit card issuance in the first half of 2008, and over the last 12 months has doubled its estimated new business market share to 12 per cent. In addition, Lloyds TSB has been the leading consumer debit card issuer in the UK during the first half of the year.


UK RETAIL BANKING (continued)

Improving productivity and efficiency

We have continued to benefit from recent investment in reducing the levels of administration and processing work carried out in branches. This has enabled us to further increase our focus on meeting the needs of our customers and has supported improved productivity in the branch network sales effort. Average sales by staff in the branch network have shown good growth on the levels achieved in 2007, as we have continued to reallocate more staff from back office roles into customer facing activities. These improvements have supported a further improvement in the retail banking cost:income ratio, excluding the impact of the settlement of overdraft claims, to 45.1 per cent, from 47.0 per cent last year.

 

Telephone banking has continued to improve the quality of the service which it provides to customers, allowing us to focus on better meeting the needs of our customers whilst also improving efficiency. We are now offering customers more automated services, including the payment of bills, and a single point of telephone contact.


 

Impairment levels remain satisfactory

Impairment losses on loans and advances were slightly higher at £655 million, largely reflecting the impact of lower house prices on the mortgage impairment charge. The impairment charge as a percentage of average lending was slightly lower at 1.12 per cent, compared to 1.15 per cent in the first half of last year. Over 99  per cent of new personal loans and 90  per cent of new credit cards sold during the first half of 2008 were to existing customers. The level of arrears in the credit card portfolio continued to improve during the first half of 2008, whilst personal loans and overdraft arrears remained broadly stable.

In terms of unsecured lending, our asset quality remains good and our current arrears performance remains satisfactory. As a result, we do not expect the retail unsecured impairment charge in 2008 to significantly exceed the unsecured impairment charge in 2007. However, in the context of the uncertain UK economic environment and the potential for increased consumer arrears and insolvencies, we are continuing to enhance our underwriting, collections and fraud prevention procedures.

Mortgage credit quality remains excellent with arrears remaining broadly stable, up 3 per cent over the last 12 months. The fall in the house price index over the last six months has however led to an increase of £36 million in the house price index related charge for impairments in the first half of the year. Looking forward, our view is for a fall in the house price index of between 10 and 15 per cent during 2008. Were the index to fall by, for example, 12.5 per cent this year, we might expect the house price index related component of the impairment charge in the second half of 2008 to be approximately £100 million.

 

Excluding the impact of this house price index related charge, mortgage impairments remained at a relatively low level.
In Cheltenham & Gloucester, the average indexed loan-to-value ratio on the mortgage portfolio was 47 per cent, and the average loan-to-value ratio for new mortgages and further advances written during the first half of 2008 was 63 per cent. At 30 June 2008, only 4 per cent of balances had an indexed loan-to-value ratio in excess of 95  per cent . Compared to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) industry averages at 31 March 2008, Cheltenham & Gloucester had approximately half the industry average for properties in possessions and new repossessions as a percentage of total cases in the first quarter of 2008. In addition, arrears in the Group’s buy-to-let portfolio represent only a small fraction of CML industry averages. We extensively stress-test our lending to changes in macroeconomic conditions and we remain very confident in the quality of our mortgage portfolio.


INSURANCE AND INVESTMENTS

 

Half-year  to 30 June  2008 

Half-year  to 30 June 
2007
 

 

Change 

 

Half-year  to 31 Dec 
2007
 

Continuing businesses, excludin g volatility and profit on sale of businesses

£m 

 

£m 

 

 

£m 

                 

Net interest income

 

(33)

 

(56 )

 

41 

 

(50)

Other income

 

846 

 

833 

 

 

908  

Total income

 

813 

 

777 

 

 

858 

Insurance claims

 

( 90

 

(152)

 

41 

 

(150)

Total income, net of insurance claims

 

723 

 

625 

 

16 

 

70

Operating expenses

 

(302)

 

(307 )

 

 

(304 )

Insurance grossing adjustment (page 13)

 

10 

 

12  

     

14  

Profit before tax

 

431 

 

330 

 

31 

 

418  

                 

Profit before tax analysis

               

Life, pensions and OEICs

               

New business profit – life and pensions

 

124 

 

80 

 

55 

 

83 

New business loss – OEICs

 

(11)

 

(12)

 

 

(10)

Existing business

 

158 

 

167 

 

(5)

 

244 

Expected return on shareholders’ net assets

 

27 

 

25 

 

 

20 

   

298 

 

260 

 

15 

 

337 

General insurance

 

113 

 

50  

 

126 

 

60  

Scottish Widows Investment Partnership

 

20 

 

20 

 

 

21 

Profit before tax

 

431 

 

330 

 

31 

 

418  

                 

Present value of new business premiums (PVNBP)

 

5,375 

 

5,372 

 

 

5,052 

PVNBP new business margin (EEV basis)

 

3.0

 

3.4% 

     

2.9% 

Post-tax return on embedded value (EEV basis, page 61 , note 24)

11.7

 

10.8% 

     

10.4% 

               


Restated, see note 2.

Key highlights

·     

Strong profit performance. Profit before tax increased by 31 per cent to £431  million.


·     

Good income growth and strong cost management. Income increased by per cent, whilst operating expenses decreased by per cent.


·     

Good sales performance, with an per cent increase in Scottish Widows’ bancassurance sales offsetting a 5 per cent reduction in sales through the IFA distribution channel.


·     

Continued high returns . On an EEV basis, the post-tax return on embedded value remained high at 11.7 per cent .


·     

Strong profit performance in General insurance. Profits more than doubled in the first half of 2008 following non-repetition of the severe weather conditions in 2007.


·     

Resilient performance by Scottish Widows Investment Partnership, as profit before tax remained stable against the backdrop of a significant reduction in equity market levels.





INSURANCE AND INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

Scottish Widows life, pensions and OEICs

Profit before tax increased by £38  million, or 15  per cent, to £298 million.

 

Life and pensions new business profit, on an IFRS basis
and excluding volatility, increased by 55 per cent to £124 million , reflecting an improved mix in protection sales towards higher margin products and an increase in the proportion of insurance-based products.

During the first half of 2008, Scottish Widows has continued to make good progress in each of its key business priorities: to maximise bancassurance success; to profitably grow IFA sales; to improve service and operational efficiency; and to optimise capital management.

 

Maximising bancassurance success

During the first half of 2008, the value of Scottish Widows’ bancassurance new business premiums increased by 8 per cent, building on the success of the simplified product range for distribution through the Lloyds TSB branch network, Commercial Banking and Wealth Management channels. Sales of OEICs through the wealth segment were particularly strong and have more than offset a reduction in volumes through the mass market segment, where a reduction in the sales of equity-backed OEICs has been partly offset by strong sales of capital protected savings products. Sales of protection products also increased significantly reflecting the successful launch of a number of enhancements to the ‘Protection for Life’ product suite. Scottish Widows’ UK market share in its key life, pensions and investments markets in the bancassurance distribution channel continues to grow.

IFA sales

Sales through the IFA distribution channel decreased by 5 per cent reflecting a reduction in marketwide IFA sales. Sales performance was particularly strong in corporate pensions which grew by 32 per cent following the strengthening of our product offer and the gain of a number of new corporate pension scheme mandates. In addition, sales of individual pensions increased by 12 per cent reflecting a positive market response to the introduction of post-retirement options to the Scottish Widows Retirement Account pension product. Challenging conditions in the external investment bond market, partly driven by changes in Capital Gains Tax regulations, led to a significant reduction, of 53 per cent, in the sale of savings and investment products within the IFA channel.


INSURANCE AND INVESTMENTS (continued)

 

Half-year  to 30 June  2008 

Half-year  to 30 June 
2007 

 

Change 

 

Half-year  to 31 Dec 
2007 

Present value of new business premiums (PVNBP)

£m 

 

£m 

 

 

£m 

                 

Life and pensions:

               

Protection

 

515 

 

488 

 

 

472 

Savings and investments

 

253 

 

499 

 

(49)

 

414 

Individual pensions

 

1,234 

 

1,092 

 

13 

 

981 

Corporate and other pensions

 

1,159 

 

928 

 

25 

 

1,213 

Retirement income

 

506 

 

516 

 

(2)

 

528 

Managed fund business

 

132 

 

344 

 

(62)

 

142 

Life and pensions

 

3,799 

 

3,867 

 

(2)

 

3,750 

OEICs

 

1,576 

 

1,505 

 

 

1,302 

Life, pensions and OEICs

 

5,375 

 

5,372 

 

 

5,052 

                 

Single premium business

 

4,067 

 

4,378 

 

(7)

 

3,9 97 

Regular premium business

 

1,308 

 

994 

 

32 

 

1,055 

Life, pensions and OEICs

 

5,375 

 

5,372 

 

 

5,052 

                 

Bancassurance

 

2,302 

 

2,138 

 

 

1,958 

Independent financial advisers

 

2, 799 

 

2,950 

 

(5)

 

2,867 

Direct

 

27 4 

 

284 

 

(4)

 

227 

Life, pensions and OEICs

 

5,375 

 

5,372 

 

 

5,052 



Improving service and operational efficiency

The business has made further improvements in service and operational efficiencies, and the benefits can be seen in a continued reduction of 2 per cent in expenses, notwithstanding ongoing investment in building an enhanced suite of products. In addition, Scottish Widows has been awarded Best Individual Pension Provider and Best Pension Provider in the 2008 Financial Adviser Life & Pension awards.

Optimising capital management

Scottish Widows has maintained its strong focus on improving capital management. The post-tax return on embedded value, on an EEV basis, increased further to 11.7 per cent, partly reflecting a lower value of in-force business. During the first half of 2008, £0.2  billion of capital was repatriated to the Group via the regular annual dividend payment, giving a total capital repatriation of over £3.8  billion since the beginning of 2005.


INSURANCE AND INVESTMENTS (continued)

Results on a European Embedded Value (EEV) basis

Lloyds TSB continues to report under IFRS, however, in line with industry best practice, the Group provides supplementary financial reporting for Scottish Widows on an EEV basis. The Group believes that EEV represents the most appropriate measure of long-term value creation in life assurance and investment businesses.

 

Continuing businesses*

Half-year  to 30 June  2008 

Half-year  to 30 June 
2007 

   

Half-year  to 31 Dec 
2007 

 

Life, 
pensions 
and OEICs 

Life, 
pensions 
and OEICs 

 

Change 

Life, 
pensions 
and OEICs 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

 

£m 

                 

New business profit

 

160 

 

180 

 

(11)

 

146 

Existing business

               

- Expected return

 

158 

 

146 

 

 

150 

- Experience variances

 

 

     

38 

- Assumption changes

 

24 

 

(8)

     

(24)

   

1 8

 

141 

 

29 

 

164 

Expected return on shareholders’ net assets

 

75 

 

81 

 

(7)

 

85 

Profit before tax, adjusted for capital repatriation*

 

417 

 

402 

 

 

395 

Impact of capital repatriation to Group

 

 

13 

     

Profit before tax*

 

417 

 

415 

 

 

403 

New business margin (PVNBP)

 

3.0% 

 

3.4% 

     

2.9% 

Embedded value (period end) – continuing businesses

 

£4,903m 

 

£5,421

     

£5,365

Post-tax return on embedded value*

 

11.7% 

 

10.8% 

     

10.4% 

                 


* Excluding volatility and other items (page  49, note  9) .

Adjusting for the impact of capital repatriation to Group, EEV profit before tax from the Group’s life, pensions and OEICs business increased by 4 per cent to £417  million.

 

New business profit fell by £20 million, or 11 per cent, to £160 million and the overall new business margin reduced to 3.0 per cent, from 3.4 per cent in the first half of last year. The reduction in both reflects a decrease in sales of equity-related OEIC products in our mass market customer business, and an increase in finer margin OEIC sales through our Wealth Management business. The life and pensions new business margin remained strong at 3.6 per cent (page 61, note 24).

Existing business profit increased by 29 per cent . Expected return increased by 8 per cent to £158  million driven by an increase in profits from our annuity portfolio. Experience variances are not significant, with adverse lapse experience within our life and pensions business offset by favourable lapse experience within OEICs and other items. The positive assumption changes of £24 million largely reflect reduced OEIC costs. This compares to adverse assumption changes of £8 million in the first half of last year as improved income from our OEICs business was more than offset by modelling changes in the life and pensions business. The expected return on shareholders’ net assets decreased by £6 million as a result of a lower volume of free assets, driven by lower investment markets.

 

Overall the post-tax return on embedded value increased to 11.7 per cent.

 


Insurance and Investments (continued)

Scottish Widows Investment Partnership

Pre-tax profit from Scottish Widows Investment Partnership (SWIP) was unchanged at £20 million. The impact of falling equity and bond markets on annual management charges received was offset by improved cost management throughout the business. Over the last 12 months, SWIP’s assets under management decreased by £7.6 billion to £90.2 billion, again largely reflecting the impact of lower equity, bond and property market values.

 

Movements in funds under management

The following table highlights the movement in retail and institutional funds under management.

 

   

Half-year  to 30 June  2008 

Half-year  to 30 June 
2007 

Half-year  to 31 Dec 
2007 

 

 

 

£bn  

 

£bn 

 

£bn 

                 

Opening funds under management

     

102.7 

 

105.7 

 

102.6 

                 

Movement in Retail Funds

               

Premiums

     

5.9 

 

6.2 

 

5.5 

Claims

     

(2.2)

 

(2.1)

 

(2.7)

Surrenders

     

(2.7)

 

(2.8)

 

(3.6)

Net inflow of business

     

1.0 

 

1.3 

 

(0.8)

                 

Investment return, expenses and commission

     

(6.1)

 

1.7 

 

0.7 

Net movement

     

(5.1)

 

3.0 

 

(0.1)

                 

Movement in Institutional Funds

               

Lloyds TSB pension schemes

     

 

(5.7)

 

Other institutional funds

     

 

(0.3)

 

(0.3)

Investment return, expenses and commission

     

(1.9)

 

0.5 

 

0.8 

Net movement

     

(1.9)

 

(5.5)

 

0.5 

                 

Proceeds from sale of Abbey Life

     

 

 

1.0 

Dividends and surplus capital repatriation

     

(0.2)

 

(0.6)

 

(1.3)

Closing funds under management

     

95.5 

 

102.6 

 

102.7 

                 

Managed by SWIP

     

90.2 

 

97.8 

 

97.6 

Managed by third parties

     

5.3 

 

4.8 

 

5.1 

Closing funds under management

     

95.5 

 

102.6 

 

102.7 



Including assets under management within our UK Wealth Management and International Private Banking businesses, Groupwide funds under management decreased by 5 per cent to £115 billion.


Insurance and Investments (continued)

General insurance

 

Half-year  to 30 June  2008 

Half-year  to 30 June 
2007
 

 

Change 

Half-year  to 31 Dec 
2007
 

 

£ m 

 

£m  

 

 

£m  

                 

Commission receivable

 

280 

 

335 

 

(16)

 

313 

Commission payable

 

(315)

 

(353)

 

11 

 

(339)

Underwriting income (net of reinsurance)

 

303 

 

294 

 

 

297 

Other income

 

14 

 

     

14 

Net operating income

 

282 

 

281  

 

 

285  

Claims paid on insurance contracts (net of reinsurance)

 

(90)

 

(152 )

 

41 

 

(150)

Operating income, net of claims

 

192 

 

129  

 

49 

 

135  

Operating expenses

 

(79)

 

(79)

 

 

(75)

Profit before tax

 

113 

 

50  

 

126 

 

60  

                 

Claims ratio

 

29

 

50% 

     

49% 

Combined ratio

 

76

 

96% 

     

93% 

                 


Restated, see note 2.

Profit before tax from our general insurance operations increased by £63  million, to £113 million, reflecting a £57 million reduction in claims due to the absence of the severe weather related claims experienced in the first half of 2007 and the continued benefits from ongoing investment in our claims processes.

 

Net operating income increased by £1  million, reflecting good increases in income from home insurance underwriting, with sales through the branch network generating an increase in new business premiums of 10 per cent, partly offset by lower creditor insurance income. Our continued focus on improving operational efficiency and improving the effectiveness of our marketing spend has resulted in costs remaining flat despite ongoing investment in key strategic initiatives.

 

Developing key insurance partnerships

General Insurance continues to invest in the development of its Corporate Partnership distribution arrangements and significant benefits from recent acquisitions and new partnership arrangements agreed during the first half of 2008, particularly with Resolution Life and Readers Digest, have already started to be delivered and are expected to underpin further improvement over the next few years. New sales through corporate partnering relationships have more than doubled since the first half of last year.

 

Improving Efficiency and Service

Claims are £62 million lower than in the first half of last year, principally reflecting the absence of extreme weather related claims experienced last year. Adjusting for these extreme weather related claims, the claims ratio improved from 31 per cent to 29 per cent.

 

During June and July 2007 Lloyds TSB Insurance received over 4,600 claims resulting from flood events. By the end of June 2008,
94 per cent of these customers were back in their refurbished homes, and the small number of more difficult properties are on track for near-term completion. Customer feedback on the service delivered has been very positive, and customer satisfaction measures have continued to improve.


WHOLESALE AND INTERNATIONAL BANKING

Continuing businesses, excluding a provision in respect of certain historic US dollar payments and profit on sale of businesses

 

Half-year  to 30 June  2008 

Half-year  to 30 June 

2007  

Change 

Half-year  to 31 Dec 
2007
 

       

£m 

 

£m 

 

 

£m 

Net interest income

     

1,450 

 

1,109  

 

31 

 

1,271  

Other income

                   

  - Before market dislocation

     

966 

 

931 

 

 

901 

  - Market dislocation

     

(477)

 

     

(188)

       

489 

 

931 

 

(47)

 

713 

Total income

                   

  - Before market dislocation

     

2,416 

 

2,040 

 

18 

 

2,172 

  - Market dislocation

     

(477)

 

     

(188)

       

1,939 

 

2,040 

 

(5)

 

1,984 

Operating expenses

     

(1,120)

 

(1,041)

 

(8)

 

(1,111)

Trading surplus

     

819 

 

999 

 

(18)

 

873 

Impairment

                   

  - Before market dislocation

     

(336)

 

(210)

 

(60)

 

(270)

  - Market dislocation

     

(108)

 

     

(92)

       

(444)

 

(210)

 

(111)

 

(362)

Profit before tax

         

       

  - Before market dislocation

     

960 

 

789 

 

22 

 

791 

  - Market dislocation

     

(585)

 

     

(280)

       

375 

 

789 

 

(52)

 

511  

                     

Cost:income ratio

     

57.8%

 

51.0% 

     

56.0

Cost:income ratio, excluding market dislocation

 

46.4%

 

51.0% 

     

51.2% 

                     

Total assets

     

£172.8bn

 

£151.4 bn 

 

14 

 

£163.3 bn 

Customer deposits

     

£74.4bn

 

£64.4bn 

 

16 

 

£72.3bn 



Restated, see note 2.

Key highlights

·     

Continued strong relationship banking momentum.   Excluding the impact of market dislocation, profit before tax increased by 22 per cent, to £960 million.


·     

Overall profits impacted by turbulence in global financial markets. Whilst the division has limited exposure to assets affected by current capital market uncertainties, the impact of recent market dislocation has been to reduce profit before tax in the first half of 2008 by £585 million.


·     

Excellent progress in expanding our Corporate Markets business, with a 27 per cent increase in Corporate Markets income supporting a 22 per cent increase in profit before tax, excluding the impact of market dislocation. Cross-selling income in Corporate Markets increased by 64 per cent.


·     

Continued strong franchise growth in Commercial Banking, with a 9  per cent growth in income and a further increase in our market share of higher value customers.


·     

Strong risk management and good asset quality, despite a rise of £234  million in impairment losses, largely as a result of the £108  million impact of market dislocation and an increase in impairments from a small number of specific situations.





Wholesale and International Banking (continued)

In Wholesale and International Banking, the Group has continued to make significant progress in its strategy to develop the Group’s strong corporate and small to medium business customer franchises and, in doing so, become the best UK mid-market focused wholesale bank. In a challenging external market environment, the division has continued to make substantial progress in its relationship banking businesses, benefiting particularly from the strength of the Group’s balance sheet and the Group’s strong liquidity and funding capabilities. In Corporate Markets, further good progress has been made in developing our relationship banking franchise supported by a strong cross-selling performance. In Commercial Banking, strong growth in business volumes, further customer franchise improvements and good progress in improving operational efficiency, were offset by an increase in the impairment charge.

Overall, the division’s profit before tax decreased by 52  per cent to £375  million, reflecting the £585 million reduction in profits as a result of market dislocation. Excluding this impact, profit before tax increased by 22  per cent, with a continued strong performance in our relationship banking businesses. This has generated overall income growth, excluding the impact of market dislocation, of 18 per cent, driven by strong Corporate Markets and Commercial Banking income growth of 27 per cent and 9 per cent respectively. This exceeded cost growth of per cent, largely reflecting further investment in building the Corporate Markets business, leading to an improvement in the cost:income ratio to 46.4    per cent, from 51.0 per cent last year. Trading surplus, excluding the impact of market dislocation, increased by £297  million, or 30  per cent, to £1,296 million.

The charge for impairment losses on loans and advances increased by £234  million to £444  million, as a result of the £108 million impact of market dislocation, a modest increase in the level of impairments reflecting the economic slowdown in the UK, the impact of recent growth in the corporate lending portfolio, and an increase in impairments from provisions against a small number of specific situations. Despite this increase in the impairment charge we believe that we remain relatively well positioned to withstand the economic slowdown as a result of our prudent credit management policy, and our overall corporate and SME lending remains good.

 

Profit before tax by business unit

Half-year  to 30 June  2008 

Half-year  to 30 June 
2007
 

 

Change 

Half-year  to 31 Dec 
2007
 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

 

£m 

Corporate Markets

               

   - Before impact of market dislocation

 

620 

 

508  

 

22 

 

502  

   - Impact of market dislocation

 

(585)

 

     

(280)

   

35 

 

508  

 

(93)

 

222  

Commercial Banking

 

222 

 

224  

 

(1)

 

24

International Banking

 

80 

 

68 

 

18 

 

70 

Asset Finance

 

35 

 

23 

 

52 

 

16 

Other

 

 

(34)

     

(42)

Profit before tax

               

  - Before market dislocation

 

960 

 

789 

 

22 

 

791 

  - Market dislocation

 

(585)

 

     

(280)

   

375 

 

789  

 

(52)

 

511  



Restated, see note 2.


Wholesale and International Banking (continued)

Co rporate Markets

Half-year  to 30 June  2008 

Half-year  to 30 June 
2007
 

 

Change 

Half-year  to 31 Dec 
2007
 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

 

£m 

                 

Net interest income

 

714 

 

443 

 

61 

 

539 

Other income

               

   - Before market dislocation

 

381 

 

419 

 

(9)

 

389 

   - Market dislocation

 

(477)

 

     

(188)

   

(96)

 

419 

     

201 

Total income

               

   - Before market dislocation

 

1,095 

 

862 

 

2

 

928 

   - Market dislocation

 

(477)

 

     

(188)

   

618 

 

862 

 

(28)

 

740 

Operating expenses

 

(339)

 

(303)

 

(12)

 

(329)

Trading surplus

 

279 

 

559 

 

(50)

 

411  

Impairment

               

   Before market dislocation

 

(136)

 

(51)

 

(1 67)

 

(97)

   Market dislocation

 

(108)

 

     

(92)

   

(244)

 

(51)

     

(189 )

Profit before tax*

               

   - Before market dislocation

 

620 

 

508 

 

22 

 

502 

   - Market dislocation

 

(585)

 

     

(280)

   

35 

 

508 

 

(93)

 

222 

                 


*Excluding a provision in respect of certain historic US dollar payments.

Restated, see note 2.

In Corporate Markets, profit before tax fell by 93  per cent, however, excluding the impact of market dislocation, profit before tax increased by 22 per cent. On this basis, income increased by 27  per cent, supported by strong growth in corporate lending and a 64 per cent increase in cross-selling income. This strong growth in cross-selling income has been supported by the Group’s ability to leverage its strong funding capabilities and fund at market leading rates, which has enabled the Corporate Markets business to continue to grow significantly in the first half of 2008. Corporate Markets has continued to build its product capabilities and has been fulfilling substantially increased customer demand for interest rate and currency derivative products.

 

The trading surplus, excluding market dislocation, increased by 35  per cent and resulted in a further improvement in the cost:income ratio to 31.0 per cent, from 35.2 per cent in the first half of 2007. Operating expenses increased by 12 per cent to £339 million, reflecting significant further investment in people to support the substantial business growth in our Corporate Markets relationship business. Excluding the impact of market dislocation, the increase in the impairment charge reflects a modest increase in level of impairments as a result of the economic slowdown in the UK, the impact of recent growth in the corporate lending portfolio and impairments relating to provisions against a small number of specific situations.


Wholesale and International Banking (continued)

 

Commercial Banking

Half-year  to 30 June  2008 

Half-year  to 30 June 
2007
 

 

Change 

Half-year  to 31 Dec 
2007
 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

 

£m 

                 

Net interest income

 

475 

 

438  

 

 

47

Other income

 

227 

 

208 

 

 

221 

Total income

 

702 

 

646  

 

 

69

Operating expenses

 

(394)

 

(375)

 

(5)

 

(394)

Trading surplus

 

308 

 

271  

 

14 

 

29

Impairment

 

(86)

 

(47)

 

(83)

 

(52)

Profit before tax

 

222 

 

224  

 

(1)

 

24

                 


Restated, see note 2.

Profit before tax in Commercial Banking fell by £2 million, or 1 per cent, as strong growth in business volumes, growth in the Commercial Banking customer franchise and further improvements in operational efficiency and effectiveness, were offset by an increase in the impairment charge, primarily reflecting one individual transaction. Income increased by 9 per cent to £702 million, reflecting disciplined growth in lending and deposit balances, and an increased focus on the more valuable higher turnover customer relationships which have substantially greater product needs. Over the last few reporting periods, the Group has continued to build its market share of high value customers in the £0.5 to £2 million and £2 to £15 million turnover range to 16 per cent, and to 13 per cent respectively, as a result of continuing to make good progress in attracting customers ‘switching’ from other financial services providers.

 

Costs were 5 per cent higher. Cost management remains a priority and the business is now starting to capture significant benefits from recent investments in improved IT infrastructure, allowing further investment to be made in higher levels of relationship managers. Asset quality in the Commercial Banking portfolios has remained good and over 87 per cent of the portfolio is supported by security, however impairment provisions rose by £39 million largely reflecting one individual transaction. Excluding this provision, the impairment charge as a percentage of average lending was broadly stable, although in the last few months there has been some increase in the level of arrears reflecting the economic slowdown in the UK.


Wholesale and International Banking (continued)

 

International Banking

Half-year  to 30 June  2008 

Half-year  to 30 June 
2007
 

 

Change 

Half-year  to 31 Dec 
2007
 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

 

£m 

                 

Net interest income

 

116 

 

94 

 

23 

 

107 

Other income

 

97 

 

87 

 

11 

 

92 

Total income

 

213 

 

181 

 

18 

 

199 

Operating expenses

 

(131)

 

(116)

 

(13)

 

(128)

Trading surplus

 

82 

 

65 

 

26 

 

71 

Impairment

 

(2)

 

     

(1)

Profit before tax

 

80 

 

68 

 

18 

 

70 

                 


 

Restated, see note 2.

 

Profit before tax in International Banking grew by 18 per cent to £80 million reflecting strong income growth from meeting the needs of our customers, as the Group has increased its focus on growing its customer franchise in the increasingly global mobile affluent and high net worth wealth management market. Total income grew to £213 million, up 18 per cent (12 per cent excluding the impact of exchange rate movements), reflecting strong customer franchise growth, improved lending volumes at increased margins and strong growth in customer deposits. Costs increased by 13 per cent (6 per cent excluding the impact of exchange rate movements) reflecting increased investment in our target Private Banking and Expatriate Banking markets, and the trading surplus increased by 26 per cent.

Asset Finance

Half-year  to 30 June  2008 

Half-year  to 30 June 
2007
 

 

Change 

Half-year  to 31 Dec 
2007
 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

 

£m 

                 

Net interest income

 

144 

 

133  

 

 

15

Other income

 

230 

 

220 

 

 

203 

Total income

 

374 

 

353  

 

 

35

Operating expenses

 

(227)

 

(219)

 

(4)

 

(220 )

Trading surplus

 

147 

 

134  

 

10 

 

133  

Impairment

 

(112)

 

(111)

 

(1)

 

(117)

Profit before tax

 

35 

 

23 

 

52 

 

16 



Restated, see note 2.

Profit before tax in Asset Finance increased by 52  per cent to £35 million, largely reflecting good income growth, a strong focus on improving efficiency and effectiveness, lower staff numbers and continued tight credit criteria. Income increased by £21  million, or 6 per cent, whilst costs were 4 per   cent higher and, notwithstanding the economic slowdown in the UK, the impairment charge increased by only £1  million, to £112 million. This reflects the recent tightening of credit criteria, improved collections procedures and lower balances outstanding. In Personal Finance, new business volumes have risen modestly in a competitive market. Our Contract Hire business, Autolease, has performed well by continuing to leverage its strong market position and efficient operation.


CONDENSED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

 

Half-year 
to 30 June  2008 

Half-year 

to 30 June 

2007 

Half-year 

to 31 Dec  2007  

   

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

             

Interest and similar income

 

8,713 

 

7,982 

 

8,892 

Interest and similar expense

 

(5,066)

 

(5,136)

 

(5,639)

Net interest income

 

3,647 

 

2,846 

 

3,253 

Fee and commission income

 

1,582 

 

1,597 

 

1,627 

Fee and commission expense

 

(351)

 

(301)

 

(299)

Net fee and commission income

 

1,231 

 

1,296 

 

1,328 

Net trading income

 

(4,817)

 

2,366 

 

757 

Insurance premium income

 

2,914 

 

2,535 

 

2,895 

Other operating income

 

309 

 

668 

 

284 

Other income

 

(363)

 

6,865 

 

5,264 

Total income

 

3,284 

 

9,711 

 

8,517 

Insurance claims

 

1,344 

 

(4, 121)

 

(3,401)

Total income, net of insurance claims

 

4,628 

 

5,590 

 

5,116 

Operating expenses

 

(2,930)

 

(2,760)

 

(2,807)

Trading surplus

 

1,698 

 

2,830 

 

2,309 

Impairment

 

(1,099)

 

(837)

 

(959)

Profit on sale of businesses

 

 

 

657 

Profit before tax

 

599 

 

1,993 

 

2,007 

Taxation

 

(11)

 

(433)

 

(246)

Profit for the period

 

588 

 

1,560 

 

1,761 

             
             

Profit attributable to minority interests

 

12 

 

20 

 

12 

Profit attributable to equity shareholders

 

576 

 

1,540 

 

1,749 

Profit for the period

 

588 

 

1,560 

 

1,761 

             
             

Basic earnings per share

 

10.2 p

 

27.3p 

 

31.0p 

Diluted earnings per share

 

10.1 p

 

27.1p 

 

30.8p 

             

Dividend per share for the period *

 

11.4

 

11.2p  

 

24.7p  

Dividend for the period *

 

£648m  

 

£632m  

 

£1,394

             


*The dividend for the half-year to 30 June 2008 represents the interim dividend for 2008 which will be paid and accounted for on 1 October 2008 (the dividends shown for the half-year to 30 June 2007 and the half-year to 31 December 2007 represent the interim and final dividends for 2007 which were paid and accounted for on 3 October 2007 and 7 May 2008 respectively).


CONDENSED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

CONSOLIDATED balance sheet

 

30 June 

2008  

30 June 

2007 

31 Dec 

2007 

   

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

             

Assets

           

Cash and balances at central banks

 

3,616  

 

1,255 

 

4,330 

Items in course of collection from banks

 

1,883  

 

1,727 

 

1,242 

Trading and other financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

52,037 

 

68,424 

 

57,911 

Derivative financial instruments

 

9,914 

 

6,640 

 

8,659 

Loans and advances to banks

 

29,319 

 

33,599 

 

34,845 

Loans and advances to customers

 

229,621 

 

200,181 

 

209,814 

Available-for-sale financial assets

 

25,032 

 

21,994 

 

20,196 

Investment property

 

3,366 

 

5,177 

 

3,722 

Goodwill

 

2,358 

 

2,377 

 

2,358 

Value of in-force business

 

2,101 

 

2,890 

 

2,218 

Other intangible assets

 

182 

 

141 

 

149 

Tangible fixed assets

 

2,856 

 

3,220 

 

2,839 

Other assets

 

5,497 

 

5,470 

 

5,063 

Total assets

 

367,782 

 

353,095 

 

353,346 

             

Equity and liabilities

           

Deposits from banks

 

40,207 

 

40,017 

 

39,091 

Customer accounts

 

162,129 

 

144,654 

 

156,555 

Items in course of transmission to banks

 

835 

 

727 

 

668 

Trading and other financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss

3,572 

 

2,866 

 

3,206 

Derivative financial instruments

 

9,931 

 

6,890 

 

7,582 

Debt securities in issue

 

58,437 

 

49,812 

 

51,572 

Liabilities arising from insurance contracts and

           

participating investment contracts

 

35,780 

 

41,985 

 

38,063 

Liabilities arising from non-participating

     

 

   

investment contracts

 

16,331 

 

25,609 

 

18,197 

Unallocated surplus within insurance businesses

 

433 

 

628 

 

554 

Other liabilities

 

11,306 

 

12,072 

 

9,690 

Retirement benefit obligations

 

1,925 

 

2,332 

 

2,144 

Current tax liabilities

 

108 

 

946 

 

484 

Deferred tax liabilities

 

632 

 

1,236 

 

948 

Other provisions

 

381 

 

233 

 

209 

Subordinated liabilities

 

14,694 

 

11,378 

 

11,958 

Total liabilities

 

356,701 

 

341,385 

 

340,921 

             

Equity

           

Share capital

 

1,441 

 

1,430 

 

1,432 

Share premium account

 

1,396 

 

1,284 

 

1,298 

Other reserves

 

(685)

 

351 

 

(60)

Retained profits

 

8,645 

 

8,308 

 

9,471 

Shareholders’ equity

 

10,797 

 

11,373 

 

12,141 

Minority interests

 

284 

 

337 

 

284 

Total equity

 

11,081 

 

11,710 

 

12,425 

Total equity and liabilities

 

367,782 

 

353,095 

 

353,346 




CONDENSED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

 

 

Attributable to equity shareholders

       
 

Share capital 
and premium 

 

Other 
reserves 

 

Retained 
profits 

 

Minority 
interests 

 

Total 

   

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

                     

Balance at 1 January 2007

 

2,695 

 

336 

 

8,124 

 

352 

 

11,507 

Movements in available-for-sale financial assets, net of tax:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- change in fair value

 

14 

 

 

 

14 

- transferred to income statement in respect    of disposals

 

(1)

 

 

 

(1)

Movement in cash flow hedges, net of tax

 

(2)

 

 

 

(2)

Currency translation differences

 

 

 

 

(1)

 

Net income recognised directly in equity

 

15 

 

 

(1)

 

14 

Profit for the period

 

 

 

1,540 

 

20 

 

1,560 

Total recognised income for the period

 

15 

 

1,540 

 

19 

 

1,574 

Dividends

 

 

 

(1,325)

 

(4)

 

(1,329)

Purchase/sale of treasury shares

 

 

 

(36)

 

 

(36)

Employee share option schemes:

                   

- value of employee services

 

 

 

 

 

- proceeds from shares issued

 

19 

 

 

 

 

19 

Repayment of capital to minority shareholders

 

 

 

 

(30)

 

(30)

Balance at 30 June 2007

 

2,714 

 

351 

 

8,308 

 

337 

 

11,710 

Movements in available-for-sale financial assets, net of tax:

                   

- change in fair value

 

(450)

 

 

 

(450 )

- transferred to income statement in respect    of disposals

 

(4)

 

 

 

(4)

- transferred to income statement in respect    of impairment

 

49 

 

 

 

49 

- disposal of businesses

 

(6)

 

 

 

(6)

Movement in cash flow hedges, net of tax

 

(13)

 

 

 

(13 )

Currency translation differences

 

 

13 

 

 

 

13 

Net income recognised directly in equity

 

(411 )

 

 

 

(411 )

Profit for the period

 

 

 

1,749 

 

12 

 

1,761 

Total recognised income for the period

 

411)

 

1,749 

 

12 

 

1,350 

Dividends

 

 

 

(632 )

 

(15 )

 

(647 )

Purchase/sale of treasury shares

 

 

 

35 

 

 

35 

Employee share option schemes:

 

 

             

 

- value of employee services

 

 

 

11 

 

 

11 

- proceeds from shares issued

 

16 

 

 

 

 

16 

Repayment of capital to minority shareholders

 

 

 

(50 )

 

(50)

Balance at 31 December 2007

 

2,730 

 

(60)

 

9,471 

 

284 

 

12,425 




CONDENSED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (continued)

 

 

Attributable to equity shareholders

       
 

Share capital 
and premium 

 

Other 
reserves 

 

Retained 
profits 

 

Minority 
interests 

 

Total 

   

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

                     

Balance at 31 December 2007

 

2,730 

 

(60)

 

9,471 

 

284 

 

12,425 

Movements in available-for-sale financial assets, net of tax:

                   

change in fair value

 

(67 4)

 

 

 

(67 4)

- transferred to income statement in respect    of disposals

 

(18)

 

 

 

(18 )

- transferred to income statement in respect    of impairment

 

44 

 

 

 

44 

Movement in cash flow hedges, net of tax

 

(5)

 

 

 

(5)

Currency translation differences

 

 

28 

 

 

 

28 

Net income recognised directly in equity

 

(625)

 

 

 

(625)

Profit for the period

 

 

 

576 

 

12 

 

588 

Total recognised income for the period

 

(625)

 

576 

 

12 

 

(37)

Dividends

 

 

 

(1,394)

 

(10)

 

(1,404)

Purchase/sale of treasury shares

 

 

 

(6)

 

 

(6)

Employee share option schemes:

                   

- value of employee services

 

 

 

(2)

 

 

(2)

- proceeds from shares issued

 

107 

 

 

 

 

107 

Repayment of capital to minority shareholders

 

 

 

(2)

 

(2)

Balance at 30 June 2008

2,837 

 

(685)

 

8,645 

 

284 

 

11,081 




CONDENSED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT

 

Half-year 
to 30 June 
2008 

Half-year 

to 30 June 
2007 

Half-year 

to 31 Dec 

2007 

   

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

             

Profit before tax

 

599 

 

1,993 

 

2,007 

Adjustments for:

           

Change in operating assets

 

(16,664)

 

(4,602)

 

(12,380)

Change in operating liabilities

 

15,042 

 

9,888 

 

11,653 

Non-cash and other items

 

(1,535)

 

1,081 

 

1,703 

Tax paid

 

(531)

 

(394)

 

(465)

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

 

(3,089)

 

7,966 

 

2,518 

             

Cash flows from investing activities

           

Purchase of available-for-sale financial assets

 

(12,864)

 

(12,133)

 

(9,534)

Proceeds from sale and maturity of available-for-sale financial assets

 

7,908 

 

8,946 

 

10,522 

Purchase of fixed assets

 

(561)

 

(874)

 

(460)

Proceeds from sale of fixed assets

 

250 

 

388 

 

594 

Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired

 

(1)

 

(5)

 

(3)

Disposal of businesses, net of cash disposed

 

 

(26)

 

1,502 

Net cash ( used in ) provided by investing activities

 

(5,268)

 

(3,704)

 

2,621 

             

Cash flows from financing activities

           

Dividends paid to equity shareholders

 

(1,394)

 

(1,325)

 

(632)

Dividends paid to minority interests

 

(10)

 

(4)

 

(15)

Interest paid on subordinated liabilities

 

(321)

 

(342)

 

(367)

Proceeds from issue of subordinated liabilities

 

2,551 

 

 

Proceeds from issue of ordinary shares

 

107 

 

19 

 

16 

Repayment of subordinated liabilities

 

 

(300)

 

Repayment of capital to minority shareholders

 

(2)

 

(30)

 

(50)

Net cash provided by ( used in) financing activities

 

931 

 

(1,982)

 

(1,048)

Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

 

180 

 

(9)

 

91 

Change in cash and cash equivalents

 

(7,246)

 

2,271 

 

4,182 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

31,891 

 

25,438 

 

27,709 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

24,645 

 

27,709 

 

31,891 



Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash and balances at central banks (excluding mandatory deposits) and amounts due from banks with a maturity of less than three months.


CONDENSED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

NOTES TO THE CONDENSED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

   

Page 

1

Accounting policies, presentation and estimates

36 

2

Segmental analysis

37 

3

Balance sheet information

39 

4

Credit market positions in Corporate Markets

40 

5

Profit on sale of businesses

42 

6

Legal and regulatory matters

43 

7

Taxation

44 

8

Principal risks and uncertainties

45 




1.     Accounting policies, presentation and estimates

These condensed interim financial statements as at and for the half-year to 30 June 2008 have been prepared in accordance with the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the Financial Services Authority and with International Accounting Standard (‘IAS ’) 34, ‘Interim Financial Reporting’, as adopted by the European Union. They do not include all of the information required for full annual financial statements, and should be read in conjunction with the Group’s consolidated financial statements as at and for the year ended 31 December  2007 (‘2007 Annual Report and Accounts’ ), which were prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union. Copies of the 2007 Annual Report and Accounts can be found on the Group’s website or are available upon request from the Company Secretary’s Department, Lloyds TSB Group plc, 25 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HN.

 

As required by IAS 34, the Group’s income tax expense for the six months ended 30 June 2008 is based on the best estimate of the weighted-average annual income tax rate expected for the full financial year. With this exception, the accounting policies, significant judgements made by management in applying them, and key sources of estimation uncertainty applied by the Group in these condensed consolidated interim financial statements are the same as those applied by the Group in its 2007 Annual Report and Accounts. The preparation of interim financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that impact the application of accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expense. Actual results may differ from these estimates. There have been no significant changes in the bases upon which estimates have been determined, compared to those applied at 31 December 2007 . The Group has reviewed the valuation of its pension schemes and has concluded that no adjustment is required at 30 June 2008 . In accordance with IAS 19‘ Employee Benefits’, the valuations will be formally updated at the year end. Goodwill held in the Group’s balance sheet is tested (at least) annually for impairment in the second half of the year. No circumstances have arisen during the half-year to 30 June 2008 to require additional impairment testing.

 

The Group has had no material or unusual related party or share-based payment transactions during the half-year to 30 June 2008. Related party and share-based
payment transactions for the half-year to 30 June 2008 are similar in nature to those for the year ended 31 December 2007. No significant events, other than those disclosed within this document, have occurred between 30 June 2008 and the date of approval of these condensed interim financial statements. A variety of contingent liabilities and commitments arise in the ordinary course of the Group’s banking business; there has been no significant change in the volume or nature of such transactions during the half-year to 30 June 2008 . Full details of the Group’s related party transactions for the year to 31 December 2007, share-based payment schemes and contingent liabilities and commitments entered into in the normal course of business can be found in the Group’s 2007 Annual Report and Accounts.


2.      Segmental analysis

Lloyds TSB Group is a leading UK-based financial services group, providing a wide range of banking and financial services in the UK and in certain locations overseas. The Group’s activities are organised into three segments: UK Retail Banking, Insurance and Investments and Wholesale and International Banking. Central group items includes the funding cost of certain acquisitions less earnings on capital, central costs and accruals for payment to the Lloyds TSB Foundations.

 

Services provided by UK Retail Banking encompass the provision of banking and other financial services to personal customers, private banking and mortgages. Insurance and Investments offers life assurance, pensions and savings products, general insurance and asset management services. Wholesale and International Banking provides banking and related services for major UK and multinational companies, banks and financial institutions, and small and medium-sized UK businesses. It also provides asset finance to personal and corporate customers, manages the Group’s activities in financial markets and provides banking and financial services overseas.

As part of Lloyds TSB Group’s transition to Basel II on 1 January 2008, the Group has updated its capital and liquidity pricing methodology. The main difference in this approach is to allocate a greater share of certain funding costs, previously allocated to the Central group items segment, to individual divisions. To enable meaningful period-on-period comparisons, the segmental analyses for the half-years to 30 June 2007 and 31 December 2007 have been restated to reflect these changes.

Half-year to

30 June 2008

UK 
Retail 
Banking 

General 
insurance 

Life, 
pensions 
and asset 
management  

Insurance 
and 

Investments 

Wholesale 
and 

International 

Banking 

 

Central 
group 
items* 

 

Total 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

                           

Interest and similar income*

4,324  

 

12  

 

491  

 

503  

 

5,516  

 

(1,630 )

 

8,713  

Interest and similar expense*

(2,334 )

 

(9)

 

(209 )

 

(218 )

 

(4,066 )

 

1,552 

 

(5,066 )

Net interest income

1,990 

 

 

282 

 

285 

 

1,450 

 

(78 )

 

3,647  

Other income (net of fee and commission expense)

862 

 

278 

 

(1,958)

 

(1,680)

 

489 

 

(34 )

 

(363)

Total income

2,852 

 

281 

 

(1,676)

 

(1,395)

 

1,939  

 

(112)

 

3,284  

Insurance claims

 

(90 )

 

1,434 

 

1,344 

 

 

 

1,344 

Total income, net of insurance claims

2,852  

 

191 

 

(242)

 

(51)

 

1,939 

 

(112 )

 

4,628 

Operating expenses

(1,286 )

 

(79 )

 

(233 )

 

(312 )

 

(1,300 )

 

(32 )

 

(2,930 )

Trading surplus (deficit)

1,566 

 

112 

 

(475)

 

(363)

 

639 

 

(144 )

 

1,698  

Impairment

(655 )

 

 

 

 

(444 )

 

 

(1,099 )

Profit (loss) before tax

911 

 

112 

 

(475)

 

(363)  

 

195 

 

(144)

 

599  

                           

External revenue

4,838 

 

594 

 

(1,043)

 

(449)

 

4,393 

 

(81)

 

8,701 

Inter-segment revenue*

570 

 

34 

 

12 

 

46 

 

1,706 

 

(2,322)

 

Segment revenue

5,408 

 

628 

 

(1,031)

 

(403)

 

6,099 

 

(2,403)

 

8,701 

                           


*Central group items on this and the following page includes inter-segment consolidation adjustments within interest and similar income and within interest and similar expense as follows: interest and similar income £(2,475) million (2007H1: £(1,495) million ; 2007H2: £(1,806) million); interest and similar expense £2,475  million (2007H1: £1,495  million; 2007H2: £1,806 million). There is no impact on net interest income. Similarly, Central group items includes inter-segment revenue adjustments of £(3,121 ) million (2007H1: £(2,011) million ; 2007H2: £(2,255) million).


2.      Segmental analysis (continued)

Half-year to
30 June 2007

UK 
Retail 
Banking 

General 
Insurance 

Life, 
pensions 
and asset 
management  

Insurance 
and 

Investments 

Wholesale 
and 

International 

Banking 

 

Central 
group 
items* 

 

Total 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

Interest and similar income*

3,729 

 

10 

 

459 

 

469 

 

4,617 

 

(833)

 

7,982 

Interest and similar expense*

(1,931)

 

(9)

 

(387)

 

(396)

 

(3,488)

 

679 

 

(5,136)

Net interest income

1,798 

 

 

72 

 

73 

 

1,129 

 

(154)

 

2,846 

Other income (net of fee and commission expense)

883 

 

286 

 

4,497 

 

4,783 

 

1,017 

 

182 

 

6,865 

Total income

2,681 

 

287 

 

4,569 

 

4,856 

 

2,146 

 

28 

 

9,711 

Insurance claims

 

(152)

 

(3,969)

 

(4,121)

 

 

 

(4,121)

Total income, net of insurance claims

2,681 

 

135 

 

600 

 

735 

 

2,146 

 

28 

 

5,590 

Operating expenses

(1,297)

 

(79)

 

(256)

 

(335)

 

(1,125)

 

(3)

 

(2,760)

Trading surplus

1,384 

 

56 

 

344 

 

400 

 

1,021 

 

25 

 

2,830 

Impairment

(627)

 

 

 

 

(210)

 

 

(837)

Profit before tax

757 

 

56 

 

344 

 

400 

 

811 

 

25 

 

1,993 

External revenue

4,361 

 

639 

 

5,037 

 

5,676 

 

4,995 

 

116 

 

15,148 

Inter-segment revenue*

415 

 

22 

 

97 

 

119 

 

882 

 

(1,416)

 

Segment revenue

4,776 

 

661 

 

5,134 

 

5,795 

 

5,877 

 

(1,300)

 

15,148 

                           


Half-year to
31 December 2007

UK 
Retail 
Banking 

General 
Insurance 

Life, 
pensions 
and asset 
management

Insurance 
and 

Investments 

Wholesale 
and 

International 

Banking 

 

Central 
group 
items* 

 

Total 

 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

Interest and similar income*

4,235 

 

13 

 

581 

 

594 

 

5,145 

 

(1,082)

 

8,892 

Interest and similar expense*

(2,338)

 

(9)

 

(295)

 

(304)

 

(3,865)

 

868 

 

(5,639)

Net interest income

1,897 

 

 

286 

 

290 

 

1,280 

 

(214)

 

3,253 

Other income (net of fee and commission expense)

914 

 

268 

 

3,146 

 

3,414 

 

756 

 

180 

 

5,264 

Total income

2,811 

 

272 

 

3,432 

 

3,704 

 

2,036 

 

(34)

 

8,517 

Insurance claims

 

(150)

 

(3,251)

 

(3,401)

 

 

 

(3,401)

Total income, net of insurance claims

2,811 

 

122 

 

181 

 

303 

 

2,036 

 

(34)

 

5,116 

Operating expenses

(1,327)

 

(75)

 

(245)

 

(320)

 

(1,157)

 

(3)

 

(2,807)

Trading surplus (deficit)

1,484 

 

47 

 

(64) 

 

(17) 

 

879 

 

(37)

 

2,309 

Impairment

(597)

 

 

 

 

(362)

 

 

(959)

Profit on sale of businesses

 

 

272 

 

272 

 

385 

 

 

657 

Profit (loss) before tax

887 

 

47 

 

208 

 

255 

 

902 

 

(37)

 

2,007 

External revenue

4,771 

 

596 

 

3,817 

 

4,413 

 

5,087 

 

184 

 

14,455 

Inter-segment revenue*

543 

 

27 

 

84 

 

111 

 

605 

 

(1,259)

 

-

Segment revenue

5,314 

 

623 

 

3,901 

 

4,524 

 

5,692 

 

(1,075)

 

14,455 

                           



3.     Balance sheet information

   

30 June 
2008 

 

30 June 
2007 

 

31 Dec 
2007 

   

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

             

Deposits customer accounts

           

Sterling:

           

Non-interest bearing current accounts

 

3,328 

 

3,610 

 

3,155 

Interest bearing current accounts

 

43,515 

 

42,426 

 

42,858 

Savings and investment accounts

 

73,460 

 

66,436 

 

70,003 

Other customer deposits

 

22,941 

 

19,059 

 

24,671 

Total sterling

 

143,244 

 

131,531 

 

140,687 

Currency

 

18,885 

 

13,123 

 

15,868 

Total deposits customer accounts

 

162,129 

 

144,654 

 

156,555 

             

Loans and advances to customers

           

Agriculture, forestry and fishing

 

3,373 

 

2,928 

 

3,226 

Energy and water supply

 

2,203 

 

2,258 

 

2,102 

Manufacturing

 

9,832 

 

8,023 

 

8,385 

Construction

 

3,151 

 

2,548 

 

2,871 

Transport, distribution and hotels

 

12,613 

 

10,970 

 

11,573 

Postal and communications

 

1,261 

 

924 

 

946 

Property companies

 

20,937  

 

16,062 

 

17,576 

Financial, business and other services

 

35,246 

 

26,082 

 

29,707 

Personal     : mortgages

 

109,783 

 

100,140 

 

102,739 

     : other

 

23,932 

 

22,473 

 

22,988 

Lease financing

 

4,726 

 

4,948 

 

4,686 

Hire purchase

 

5,157 

 

5,063 

 

5,423 

   

232,214 

 

202,419 

 

212,222 

Allowance for impairment losses on loans and advances

 

(2,593)

 

(2,238)

 

(2,408)

Total loans and advances to customers

 

229,621 

 

200,181 

 

209,814 



Total loans and advances to customers in our international businesses totalled £7,963  million (30  June 200 7:  £5,635  million; 31 December 2007: £6,291 million).


4.     Credit market positions in Corporate Markets

Lloyds TSB’s high quality business model means that the Group has relatively limited exposure to assets affected by current capital markets uncertainties. The following table shows credit market positions in Corporate Markets, on both a gross and net basis.

Credit market positions – 30 June 2008

30 June 2008

 

2008 H1 

 

31 Dec 2007

 

Net 

e xposure 

 

Gross 

e xposure 

 

Write

down  

 

Net 

exposure 

 

Gross 

exposure  

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

                   

US sub-prime ABS-direct

 

 

 

 

                   

ABS CDO s

                 

- unhedged

70 

 

70  

 

62 

 

130 

 

130 

- monoline hedged

 

297 

 

170 

 

 

470 

- major global bank cash collateralised

 

1,3 82 

 

 

 

1,861 

                   

Structured investment vehicles

                 

- capital notes

3 5 

 

3 5 

 

43 

 

78 

 

78 

- liquidity backup facilities

85 

 

85 

 

 

370 

 

370 

                   

Trading portfolio

                 

- ABS trading book

417 

 

417 

 

9 7 

 

474 

 

474 

- secondary loan trading

479 

 

83

 

40 

 

665 

 

863 

- other assets*

3,622 

 

3,622 

 

1 70 

 

3,895 

 

3,895 

         

585 

       
                   


*Primarily high quality senior bank and corporate assets; also includes £173 million of indirect exposure to US sub-prime mortgages and ABS CDOs. This super senior exposure is protected by note subordination.

Available-for-sale assets

 

30 June  

2008  

 

31 Dec  

2007 

 

Reserves  

a djustment 
2008 H1 

   

£ m 

 

£m 

 

£ m 

             

Cancara

 

7,645  

 

8,268 

 

( 448 )

- US sub-prime – nil

           

- Alt-A – £424  million (100% AAA/Aaa)

           

- CMBS – £1,231  million (100% AAA/Aaa)

           
             

Student Loan ABS

 

3,231 

 

3,164 

 

( 139 )

- US Government guaranteed

           
             

Treasury assets

 

8,342  

 

4,142 

 

(6)

- Government bond and short-dated bank commercial paper

           
             

Other assets

 

5,196 

 

4,088 

 

(52)

Predominantly m ajor bank senior paper and high quality ABS

           

Total – Corporate Markets

 

24,414 

 

19,662 

 

(645)

Other businesses

 

618 

 

534 

 

15 

Total – Group

 

25,032 

 

20,196 

 

(630)




4.     Credit market positions in Corporate Markets (continued)

Valuation of financial instruments

The fair values of financial instruments are determined by reference to observable market prices where these are available and the market is active. Where market prices are not available or are unreliable because of poor liquidity, fair values are determined using valuation techniques including cash flow models which, to the extent possible, use observable market parameters. The process of calculating the fair value using valuation techniques may necessitate the estimation of certain pricing parameters, assumptions or model characteristics.

At 30 June 2008, the fair values of £756 million (31 December 2007: £874 million) of Corporate Markets’ trading and other financial assets classified as fair value through profit or loss were valued using unobservable inputs. In respect of these assets, during the six months to 30 June 2008, negative £117 million (six months to 31 December 2007: negative £105 million) was recognised in the income statement relating to the change in their fair values.

 

The fair values of the Group’s venture capital investments in Corporate Markets which at 30 June 2008 amounted to £841 million (31 December 2007: £696 million) and are included within trading and other financial assets classified at fair value through profit or loss are determined using valuation techniques which follow British Venture Capital Association (BVCA) guidelines.

 

Other valuations use indicative price quotes received from brokers or lead managers, as appropriate, or techniques commonly used by market participants such as discounted cash flow analysis and pricing models.

 

There are no individually significant assumptions used within those models.

Cancara

Cancara is the Group’s hybrid Asset Backed Commercial Paper conduit. At 30 June 2008, the carrying amount of Cancara’s assets comprised £7,645 million ABS (31 December 2007: £8,268 million) and £4,008 million client receivables transactions (31 December 2007: £3,723 million). Cancara is fully consolidated in the Group’s accounts and represents the Group’s only significant conduit.

 

At 30 June 2008, 92 per cent of the ABS bonds in Cancara were Aaa/AAA rated by Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s respectively, and there was no exposure either directly or indirectly to sub-prime US mortgages within the ABS portfolio. At 30 June 2008 the client receivables portfolio included no US sub-prime mortgage exposure (31 December 2007: 
£115 million). At 30 June 2008, Alt-A exposures within the conduit were £424 million (31 December 2007:  £619 million).

 

During the six months to 30 June 2008, an adjustment of £448 million (six months to 31 December 2007: £237 million) was made against the available-for-sale reserve in respect of ABS.

 

Credit default swap exposure to monolines

At 30 June 2008, Corporate Markets had fair value exposure to two monoline financial guarantors in the form of credit default swap (CDS) protection bought against a CDO of ABS of £500  million and a £200 million CLO. At 30 June 2008, Corporate Markets’ exposure to these CDS was £342  million. During the six months to 30 June 2008, adverse credit valuation adjustments relating to these CDS in the amount of £183 million (six months to 31 December 2007: £25 million) were recognised in the income statement.


4.     Credit market positions in Corporate Markets (continued)

Leveraged finance – underwriting commitments

At 30 June 2008, Corporate Markets’ not-yet -syndicated leveraged loan underwriting commitments amounted to £1,023 million of which £756 million were originated before the market dislocation (31 December 2007: £756 million). All of the underlying assets are performing satisfactorily.

 

Impairment of available-for-sale financial assets

Impairment losses in respect of available-for-sale financial assets transferred from reserves to the income statement for the six months to 30 June 2008 total led £62 ?million (six months to 31 December 2007: ?£70 million).

 

In determining whether an impairment loss has been incurred in respect of an available-for-sale financial asset, the Group performs an objective review of the current financial circumstances and future prospects of the issuer and considers whether there has been a significant or prolonged decline in the fair value of that asset below its cost. This consideration requires management
judgement . Among factors considered by the Group is whether the decline in fair value is a result of a change in the quality of the asset or a downward movement in the market as a whole. An assessment is performed of the future cash flows expected to be realised from the asset, taking into account, where appropriate, the quality of underlying security and credit protection available.

 

For impaired debt instruments which are classified as available-for-sale financial assets, additional impairment losses are recognised when it is determined there has been a further negative impact on expected future cash flows. A
reduction in fair value caused by general widening of credit spreads would not, of itself, result in additional impairment.

 

 

5.     Profit on sale of businesses

During the second half of 2007, the Group disposed of Lloyds TSB Registrars, its share registration business; Abbey Life, the UK life operation which was closed to new business in 2000; and Dutton-Forshaw, its medium-size car dealership. In addition, provision was made for payments under an indemnity given in relation to a business sold in an earlier year. A breakdown is provided below:

 

   

Half-year  

to 30 June  

2008  

 

Half-year 

to 30 June  

2007 

 

Half-year 

to 31 Dec 

2007 

   

£m  

 

£m 

 

£m 

             

Lloyds TSB Registrars

 

 

 

407 

Abbey Life

 

 

 

272 

Other

 

 

 

(22)

   

 

 

657 




6.     Legal and regulatory matters

During the ordinary course of business the Group is subject to threatened or actual legal proceedings. All such material cases are periodically reassessed, with the assistance of external professional advisers where appropriate, to determine the likelihood of the Group incurring a liability. In those instances where it is concluded that it is more likely than not that a payment will be made, a provision is established to management’s best estimate of the amount required to settle the obligation at the relevant balance sheet date. In some cases it will not be possible to form a view, either because the facts are unclear or because further time is needed properly to assess the merits of the case. No provisions are held against such cases; however the Group does not currently expect the final outcome of these cases to have a material adverse effect on its financial position.

 

In the UK and elsewhere, there is continuing political and regulatory scrutiny of financial services. On 5 June 2008 the Competition Commission published its provisional findings and remedies notice in the Payment Protection Insurance Inquiry and, following consultation, is expected to report by December 2008.
The UK Office of Fair Trading (‘OFT’) is carrying out an investigation into certain current account charges which are also subject to a legal test case (see below). In addition, on 16 July 2008 the OFT published a market study report on personal current accounts. The OFT is now engaging in a period of consultation until 31 October 2008. At the conclusion of the consultation period, the OFT will publish a summary of the responses received, and then aims to publish a further report in early 2009 which will contain recommendations for the banking industry. The OFT is also investigating interchange fees charged by some card networks in parallel with the European Commission’s own investigation into Visa cross-border interchange fees, the European Commission having issued its decision in the MasterCard cross-border interchange case, which decision is now under appeal to the European Court of First Instance. At the same time regulators are considering the review of retail distribution and UK financial stability and depositor protection proposals. It is not presently possible to assess the cost or income impact of these inquiries or any connected matters on the Group until the outcome is known.

 

In addition, a number of EU directives, including the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive and Payment Services Directive are currently being implemented in the UK. The EU is also considering regulatory proposals for, inter alia,
Consumer Credit, Mortgage Credit, Single European Payments Area, Retail Financial Services Review and capital adequacy requirements for insurance companies (Solvency II).

On 27 July 2007, following agreement between the OFT and a number of UK financial institutions, the OFT issued High Court legal proceedings against seven institutions, including Lloyds TSB Bank plc, to determine the legal status and enforceability of certain of the charges applied to their personal customers in relation to requests for unplanned overdrafts. On 24 April 2008 the High Court determined, in relation to the current terms and conditions of those financial institutions (including Lloyds TSB Bank plc), that the relevant charges are not capable of amounting to penalties but that they are assessable for fairness. On 23 May 2008 Lloyds TSB Bank plc, along with the other relevant financial institutions, was given permission to appeal the finding that the relevant charges are assessable for fairness. A further hearing was held on 7 to 9 July 2008 to consider the position in relation to those financial institutions’ (including Lloyds TSB Bank plc’s) historic terms and conditions and judgment is currently awaited. It is likely that further hearings will be required and, if appeals are pursued, the proceedings may take a number of years to conclude. The Financial Services Authority (‘FSA’) has agreed, subject to certain conditions, that the handling of customer complaints on this issue can be suspended until the earlier of either conclusion of the proceedings or 26 January 2009, subject to any renewal or extension which the FSA may agree. Cases before the Financial Ombudsman Service and the County Courts are also generally currently stayed, pending the outcome of the legal proceedings initiated by the OFT.


6.     Legal and regulatory matters (continued)

The Group intends to continue to defend its position strongly. Accordingly, no provision in relation to the outcome of this litigation has been made. Depending on the Court’s determinations, a range of outcomes is possible, some of which could have a significant financial impact on the Group. The ultimate impact of the litigation on the Group can only be known at its conclusion.

There has been increased scrutiny of the financial institutions sector, especially in the US, with respect to combating money laundering and terrorist financing and enforcing compliance with economic sanctions. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (‘OFAC’) administers US laws and regulations in relation to US economic sanctions against designated foreign countries, nationals and others and the Group has been conducting a review of its conduct with respect to historic US dollar payments involving countries, persons or entities subject to those sanctions. The Group has provided information relating to its review of such historic payments to a number of authorities including OFAC, the US Department of Justice and the New York County District Attorney’s office which, along with other authorities, have been reported to be conducting a broader review of sanctions compliance by non-US financial institutions. The Group is involved in ongoing discussions with these and other authorities with respect to agreeing a resolution of their investigations. Discussions have advanced towards resolution since the year end and the Group has provided £180 million in respect of this matter in the first half of 2008.

 

7.     Taxation

A reconciliation of the charge that would result from applying the standard UK corporation tax rate to profit before tax to the tax charge is given below:

   

Half-year 
to 30 June 
2008 

 

Half-year 
to 30 June 
2007 

 

Half-year 
to 31 Dec 
2007 

   

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

             

Profit before tax

 

5 99 

 

1,993 

 

2,007 

           

Tax charge thereon at UK corporation tax rate of 28.5% (2007: 30%)

1 71 

 

598 

 

602 

Factors affecting charge:

           

Disallowed and non-taxable items

 

25 

 

(3)

 

Overseas tax rate differences

 

 

(5)

 

Gains exempted or covered by capital losses

 

(2)

 

(36)

 

(238)

Policyholder interests

 

(207)

 

(51)

 

(122)

Corporation tax rate change

 

 

(89)

 

(21)

Other items

 

21 

 

19 

 

19 

Tax charge

 

11 

 

433 

 

246 




8.      Principal risks and uncertainties

The most significant risks likely to be faced by the Group in the second half of the year are:

 

·     

Credit risk, reflecting the risk inherent in our lending businesses that is exacerbated at a time when the UK economy is experiencing a marked slowdown which in turn could lead to a recession. In mortgages, a reduction in house price indices is expected to lead to an increase in impairment levels. Wholesale credit markets remain volatile and dislocated. The market dislocation is beginning to impact the real economy, which could result in a further worsening of the business environment and a consequent increase in impairment levels, and in further mark-to-market adjustments in the Group’s portfolio of trading and available-for-sale assets.




·     

Market risk arising in the Insurance and Investments division, the Wholesale and International Banking division and the Group's pension schemes with respect to adverse movements in equity markets, credit markets and interest rates which has a consequent effect upon the value of assets. The value of pension scheme liabilities is exposed to real interest rates and credit spreads. These asset and liability risks could impact the Group adversely.




·     

Legal and regulatory risk, reflecting the legal and regulatory environment in which the Group operates and the volume and pace of change from within the UK and the rest of the world. This impacts the Group, both operationally in terms of cost of compliance with uncertainty about legal and regulatory expectations, and strategically through pressure on key earnings streams. The latter could potentially result in changes to business and pricing models, particularly in the UK retail market. Our business planning processes continue to reflect changes in the legal and regulatory environment.





STATEMENT OF DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES

The directors listed below (being all the directors of Lloyds TSB Group plc) confirm that to the best of their knowledge this condensed set of financial statements has been prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34, Interim Financial Reporting, as adopted by the European Union, and that the interim management report herein includes a fair review of the information required by DTR 4.2.7 and DTR 4.2.8, namely:

·     

an indication of important events that have occurred during the six months ended 30 June 2008 and their impact on the condensed interim financial statements, and a description of the principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining six months of the financial year; and


·     

material related party transactions in the six months ended 30 June 2008 and any material changes in the related party transactions described in the last annual report.




Signed on behalf of the board by

 

J. Eric Daniels

Group Chief Executive


29 July 2008

 

 

 

 

Lloyds TSB Group plc board of directors

Non-Executive Directors

Executive Directors

Sir Victor Blank

J Eric Daniels

Wolfgang C G Berndt

Archie G Kane

Ewan Brown CBE FRSE

G Truett Tate

Jan P du Plessis

Helen A Weir CBE

Philip N Green

 

Sir Julian Horn-Smith

 

Lord Leitch

 

Sir David Manning GCMG CVO

 



INDEPENDENT REVIEW REPORT TO LLOYDS TSB GROUP PLC

Introduction

We have been engaged by the company to review the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report for the six months ended 30 June 2008, which comprises the income statement, balance sheet, statement of changes in equity, cash flow statement and related notes 1 to 8. We have read the other information contained in the half-yearly financial report and considered whether it contains any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the information in the condensed set of financial statements.

 

Directors’ responsibilities

The half-yearly financial report is the responsibility of, and has been approved by, the directors. The directors are responsible for preparing the half-yearly financial report in accordance with the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the United Kingdom's Financial Services Authority.

 

As disclosed in note 1, the annual financial statements of the group are prepared in accordance with
International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union. The condensed set of financial statements included in this half-yearly financial report has been prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34, ‘Interim Financial Reporting’ , as adopted by the European Union.

 

Our responsibility

Our responsibility is to express to the company a conclusion on the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report based on our review. This report, including the conclusion, has been prepared for and only for the company for the purpose of the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the Financial Services Authority and for no other purpose. We do not, in producing this report, accept or assume responsibility for any other purpose or to any other person to whom this report is shown or into whose hands it may come save where expressly agreed by our prior consent in writing.

 

Scope of review

We conducted our review in accordance with International Standard on Review Engagements (UK and Ireland) 2410, ‘Review of Interim Financial Information Performed by the Independent Auditor of the Entity’ issued by the Auditing Practices Board for use in the United Kingdom. A review of interim financial information consists of making enquiries, primarily of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters, and applying analytical and other review procedures. A review is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) and consequently does not enable us to obtain assurance that we would become aware of all significant matters that might be identified in an audit. Accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion.

 

Conclusion

Based on our review, nothing has come to our attention that causes us to believe that the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report for the six months ended 30 June 2008 is not prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34 as adopted by the European Union and the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the United Kingdom's Financial Services Authority.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Chartered Accountants

Southampton, England

29 July 2008


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

   

Page 

9

Volatility

49 

10

Mortgage lending

50 

11

Group net interest income

51 

12

Other income

52 

13

General insurance income

52 

14

Operating expenses

53 

15

Number of employees (full-time equivalent)

54 

16

Impairment losses by division

54 

17

Retirement benefit obligations

55 

18

Capital ratios (Basel II)

55 

19

Total assets by division

56 

20

Discontinued businesses

56 

21

Economic profit

 57 

22

Earnings per share

 57 

23

Scottish Widows – realistic balance sheet information

 58 

24

European Embedded Value reporting – results for the half-year to 30 June 2008

 59 

25

Scottish Widows – weighted sales (Annual Premium Equivalent)

 63 

26

Dividend

 63 

27

Other information

 63 




9.      Volatility

Insurance volatility

The Group’s insurance businesses have liability products that are supported by substantial holdings of investments, including equities, property and fixed interest investments, all of which are subject to variations in their value. The value of the liabilities does not move exactly in line with changes in the value of the investments, yet IFRS requires that the changes in both the value of the liabilities and investments be reflected within the income statement. As these investments are substantial and movements in their value can have a significant impact on the profitability of the Insurance and Investments division, management believes that it is appropriate to disclose the division’s results on the basis of an expected return in addition to the actual return. The difference between the actual return on these investments and the expected return based upon economic assumptions made at the beginning of the year is included within insurance volatility.

 

Changes in market variables also affect the realistic valuation of the guarantees and options embedded within products written in the Scottish Widows With Profits
Fund, the value of the in-force business and the value of shareholders’ funds. Fluctuations in these values caused by changes in market variables, including market spreads reflecting credit risk premia, are also included within insurance volatility. These market credit spreads represent the gap between the yield on corporate bonds and the yield on government bonds, and reflect the market’s assessment of credit risk. Changes in the credit spreads affect the value of the in-force business asset in respect of the annuity portfolio.

The expected investment returns used to determine the normalised profit of the business, which are based on prevailing market rates and published research into historic investment return differentials, are set out below:

 

           

2008 

 

2007 

           

 

                 

Gilt yields (gross)

         

4.55 

 

4.62 

Equity returns (gross)

         

7.55 

 

7.62 

Dividend yield

         

3.00 

 

3.00 

Property return (gross)

         

7.55 

 

7.62 

Corporate bonds in unit linked and with-profits funds (gross)

     

5.15 

 

5.22 

Fixed interest investments backing annuity liabilities (gross)

     

5.56 

 

5.09 



During the six months to 30 June 2008, profit before tax included negative insurance volatility of £505 million, being a credit of £5 million to net interest income and a charge of £510 million to other income (2007H1: positive volatility of £9 million, being a credit of £2 million to net interest income and a credit of £7 million to other income; 2007H2: negative volatility of £286 million, being a credit of £5 million to net interest income and a charge of £291 million to other income).

This charge mainly reflects the significant falls in global equities markets in the first half of the year, which resulted in total returns some 15 per cent lower than expected, and falls in the UK bond market, which resulted in returns some 6 per cent lower than expected. These lower than expected returns reduced the value of in-force business held on the balance sheet. The widening of corporate bond credit spreads further reduced the market consistent value of the annuity portfolio. Lower equities and bond prices also affected the valuation of the Group’s investments held within the funds attributable to the shareholder; there was no exposure to assets held at fair value through profit or loss valued using unobservable market inputs.


9.     Volatility (continued)

Policyholder interests volatility

The application of accounting standards results in the introduction of other sources of significant volatility into the pre-tax profits of the life and pensions business. In order to provide a clearer representation of the performance of the business and consistent with the way in which it is managed, equalisation adjustments are made to remove this volatility from underlying profits. The effect of these adjustments is separately disclosed as policyholder interests volatility; there is no impact upon profit attributable to equity shareholders.

 

The most significant of these additional sources of volatility is policyholder tax. Accounting standards require that tax on policyholder investment returns should be included in the Group’s tax charge rather than being offset against the related income. The impact is, therefore, to either increase or decrease profit before tax with a corresponding change in the tax charge. Other sources of volatility include the minorities’ share of the profits earned by investment vehicles which are not wholly owned by the long-term assurance funds.

During the six months to 30 June 2008, profit before tax included negative policyholder interests volatility of £289 million, being a charge to other income (2007H1: negative volatility of £63 million, being a charge to other income; 2007H2: negative volatility of £159 million, being a charge to other income). In the first half of 2008, substantial policyholder tax losses have been generated as a result of a fall in property, gilt, bond and equity values. These losses reduce future policyholder tax liabilities and have led to a policyholder tax credit during the half-year.

10.     Mortgage lending

   

Half-year 
to 30 June 

2008 

 

Half-year 

to 30 June 

2007 

 

Half-year 

to 31 Dec 

2007 

             

Gross new mortgage lending

 

£16.8bn 

 

£16.0bn  

 

£13.4bn  

Market share of gross new mortgage lending

 

11.3 %

 

9.0%  

 

7.2%  

Redemptions

 

£9.5bn 

 

£11.2bn  

 

£11.5bn  

Market share of redemptions

 

7.9 %

 

9.1%  

 

8.7%  

Net new mortgage lending

 

£7.3bn 

 

£4.8bn  

 

£1.9bn  

Market share of net new mortgage lending

 

24. 4%

 

8.9%  

 

3.5%  

Mortgages outstanding (period end)*

 

£109.3bn 

 

£100.1bn  

 

£102.0bn  

Market share of mortgages outstanding

 

9.0%

 

8.8%  

 

8.5%  

             


*Excluding the effect of IFRS related adjustments in order to conform with industry statistics.

In Cheltenham & Gloucester, the average indexed loan-to-value ratio on the mortgage portfolio was 47 per cent (31 December 2007: 43  per cent), and the average loan-to-value ratio for new mortgages and further advances written during the first half of 2008 was 63 per cent (2007: 63 per cent). At 30 June 2008, only 4 per cent of balances had an indexed loan-to-value ratio in excess of 95 per cent.

 

 


11 .     Group net interest income

   

Half-year  

to 30 June 

2008 

 

Half-year 

to 30 June 

2007 

 

Half-year 
to
31 Dec  

2007 

   

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

             

Banking margin

           

Net interest income

 

2,803 

 

2,458 

 

2,690 

Average interest-earning assets, excluding reverse repos

 

200,109 

 

180,754 

 

189,066 

Net interest margin

 

2.82% 

 

2.74%  

 

2.82%  

             

Statutory basis

           

Net interest income

 

3,647 

 

2,846 

 

3,253 

Average interest-earning assets, excluding reverse repos

 

274,471 

 

244,463 

 

251,942 

Net interest margin

 

2.67% 

 

2.35% 

 

2.56% 



The Group’s net interest income includes certain amounts attributable to policyholders, in addition to the interest earnings on shareholders’ funds held in the Group’s insurance businesses. In addition, the Group’s net interest margin is significantly affected by the accounting treatment of a number of Products and Markets and other products, principally those where funding costs are treated as an interest expense and related revenues are recognised within other income. In order to enhance comparability in the Group’s banking net interest margin these items have been excluded in determining both net interest income and average interest-earning assets.

A reconciliation of banking net interest income to Group net interest income follows:

   

Half-year  

to 30 June 

2008 

 

Half-year 

to 30 June 

2007 

 

Half-year 

to 31 Dec 

2007 

   

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

             

Banking net interest income

 

2,803 

 

2,458 

 

2,690 

Products and Markets, and other products

 

526 

 

239 

 

214 

Volatility and insurance grossing adjustment

 

318 

 

102 

 

326 

Discontinued businesses

 

 

47 

 

23 

Group net interest income

 

3,647 

 

2,846 

 

3,253 




12.     Other income

   

Half-year 
to 30 June 
2008 

 

Half-year 

to 30 June 

2007 

 

Half-year 

to 31 Dec 

2007 

   

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

Fee and commission income:

           

 UK current account fees

 

361 

 

345 

 

348 

 Other UK fees and commissions

 

588 

 

524 

 

570 

 Insurance broking

 

280 

 

335 

 

313 

 Card services

 

282 

 

250 

 

286 

 International fees and commissions

 

71 

 

65 

 

67 

   

1,582 

 

1,519  

 

1,584 

Fee and commission expense

 

(351)

 

(292 )

 

(293 )

Net fee and commission income

 

1,231 

 

1,227  

 

1,291 

Net trading income

 

(4,302)

 

2,003  

 

1,081 

Insurance premium income

 

2,914 

 

2,388  

 

2,810 

Other operating income

 

593 

 

591 

 

386 

Total other income*

 

436 

 

6,209  

 

5,568 

Insurance claims

 

1,344 

 

(3 ,614 )

 

(3,303 )

Total other income, net of insurance claims*

 

1,780 

 

2,595  

 

2,265  

Volatility

           

- Insurance

 

(510)

 

 

(291 )

- Policyholder interests

 

(289)

 

(63 )

 

(159 )

Discontinued businesses

 

 

205 

 

48 

Total other income, net of insurance claims

 

981  

 

2,744 

 

1,863 

             


*Excluding volatility and discontinued businesses. For statutory reporting purposes, volatility totalling £(799) million in the first half of 2008 (2007H1: £(56)million; 2007H2: £(450)million) is included in total other income; comprising net trading income of £(515) million (2007H1: £(79)  million; 2007H2: £(367)million) and other operating income of £(284) million (2007H1: £23  million; 2007H2: £(83)million).
 

In the second half of 2007 certain fees payable by the Group’s asset finance business were reclassified from other income to net interest income as part of the effective yield of the related lending. Comparative figures for the six months ended 30 June 2007 have been restated accordingly.

13.     General insurance income

   

Half-year 
to 30 June 
2008 

 

Half-year 

to 30 June 

2007 

 

Half-year 

to 31 Dec 

2007 

   

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

Premium income from underwriting

           

Creditor

 

82 

 

84 

 

80 

Home

 

228 

 

216 

 

225 

Health

 

 

 

Reinsurance premiums

 

(11)

 

(11)

 

(12)

   

303 

 

294 

 

297 

Commissions from insurance broking

           

Creditor

 

181 

 

219 

 

175 

Home

 

21 

 

22 

 

27 

Health

 

 

 

Other

 

73 

 

87 

 

106 

   

280 

 

335 

 

313 




14.     Operating expenses

   

Half-year  

to 30 June  

2008  

 

Half-year 

to 30 June  

2007 

 

Half-year 

to 31 Dec 

2007 

   

£m  

 

£m 

 

£m 

             

Administrative expenses

           

Staff:

           

  Salaries

 

1,080 

 

1,014 

 

1,058 

  National insurance

 

87 

 

80 

 

82 

  Pensions

 

117 

 

120 

 

114 

  Other staff costs

 

158 

 

150 

 

204 

   

1,442 

 

1,364 

 

1,458 

Premises and equipment:

           

  Rent and rates

 

156 

 

152 

 

149 

  Hire of equipment

 

 

 

  Repairs and maintenance

 

79 

 

77 

 

75 

  Other

 

70 

 

69 

 

67 

   

311 

 

305 

 

300 

Other expenses:

           

  Communications and external data processing

 

229 

 

235 

 

209 

  Advertising and promotion

 

96 

 

103 

 

87 

  Professional fees

 

114 

 

108 

 

150 

  Other

 

233 

 

193 

 

191 

   

672 

 

639 

 

637 

Administrative expenses

 

2,425 

 

2,308 

 

2,395 

Depreciation and amortisation

 

325 

 

310 

 

317 

Total operating expenses*

 

2,750 

 

2,618 

 

2,712 

Settlement of overdraft claims

 

 

36 

 

40 

Provision in respect of certain historic US dollar payments

 

180 

 

 

Discontinued businesses

 

 

106 

 

55 

Total operating expenses

 

2,930 

 

2,760 

 

2,807 

             

Cost:income ratio - statutory basis

 

63.3% 

 

49.4% 

 

54.9% 

Cost:income ratio - continuing businesses basis*

 

46.6% 

 

48.6% 

 

47.8% 

             


* Continuing businesses, excluding volatility, the impact of market dislocation, a provision in respect of certain historic US dollar payments, profit on disposal of businesses and the settlement of overdraft claims.
 

  Total operating expenses divided by total income, net of insurance claims.


15.     Number of employees (full-time equivalent)

   

30 June 
2008 

 

30 June 
2007 

 

31 Dec 
2007 

             

Continuing businesses

           

UK Retail Banking

 

30,193 

 

 30,624 

 

30,037 

Insurance and Investments

 

5,777 

 

5,823 

 

5,276 

Wholesale and International Banking

 

16,057 

 

15,830 

 

15,995 

Other, largely IT and Operations

 

10,057 

 

10,395 

 

10,019 

   

62,084 

 

62,672 

 

61,327 

Agency staff (full- time equivalent)

 

(3,591)

 

(3,226)

 

(3,249)

Total number of employees (full- time equivalent)

 

58,493 

 

59,446 

 

58,078 

             


In addition, at 30 June 2007 2, 885 employees (full-time equivalent) and 455 agency staff (full-time equivalent) were engaged in the businesses sold in the second half of 2007.

16.     Impairment losses by division

   

Half-year 
to 30 June 
2008 

 

Half-year 
to 30 June 
2007 

 

Half-year 
to 31 Dec 
2007 

   

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

             

Impairment losses by division

           

UK Retail Banking

           

  Personal loans/overdrafts

 

359 

 

352 

 

327 

  Credit cards

 

252 

 

270 

 

257 

  Mortgages

 

44 

 

 

13 

   

655 

 

627 

 

597 

Wholesale and International Banking

           

  Excluding market dislocation and 2007 Finance Act

 

340 

 

184 

 

263 

  Market dislocation

 

46 

 

 

22 

  2007 Finance Act

 

 

28 

 

   

386 

 

212 

 

285 

Impairment losses on loans and advances

 

1,041 

 

839 

 

882 

Other credit risk provisions

 

(4)

 

(2)

 

Impairment of available-for-sale financial assets

 

62 

 

 

70 

Total impairment charge

 

1,099 

 

837 

 

959 

             

Charge as % of average lending:

           

  Personal loans/overdrafts

 

5.43 

 

5.60 

 

5.05 

  Credit cards

 

7.84 

 

8.14 

 

7.79 

  Mortgages

 

0.09 

 

0.01 

 

0.03 

UK Retail Banking

 

1.12 

 

1.15 

 

1.05 

Wholesale and International Banking*

 

0.68 

 

0.43 

 

0.58 

Total charge*

 

0.89 

 

0.82 

 

0.82 

             


*E xcluding impact of market dislocation and 2007 Finance Act.


17 .     Retirement benefit obligations

The recognised liability has reduced by £219 million, from £2,144 million at 31 December 2007 to £1,925 million at 30 June 2008, as contributions to the Group’s defined benefit schemes exceeded the regular cost.

 

18 .     Capital ratios (Basel II)

     

30 June 
2008 

 

31 Dec 
2007 

     

£m  

 

£m 

           

T ier 1

         

Share capital and reserves

   

11,295 

 

12,663 

Regulatory post-retirement benefit adjustments

   

546 

 

704 

Other items

   

(40)

 

Available-for-sale revaluation reserve and cash flow hedging reserve

 

1,059 

 

402 

Goodwill

   

(2,358)

 

(2,358 )

Other deductions

   

(980)

 

(929)

Core tier 1 capital

   

9,522 

 

10,482 

Preference share capital

   

1,597 

 

1,589 

Innovative tier 1 capital instruments

   

2,578 

 

1,474 

Less: restriction in amount eligible

 

(531)

 

Total tier 1 capital

   

13,166 

 

13,545 

           

Tier 2

         

Undated loan capital

   

4,552 

 

4,457 

Dated loan capital

   

4,702 

 

3,441 

Innovative capital restricted from tier 1

   

531 

 

Collectively assessed provisions

   

 

12 

Available-for-sale revaluation reserve in respect of equities

   

10 

 

12 

Other deductions

   

(979)

 

(928)

Total tier 2 capital

   

8,824 

 

6,994 

     

21,990 

 

20,539 

Supervisory deductions

         

Life and pensions businesses

   

(4,018)

 

(4,373)

Other deductions

   

(601)

 

(491)

Total supervisory deductions

   

(4,619)

 

(4,864)

Total capital

   

17,371 

 

15,675 

           

Risk-weighted assets

   

£bn 

 

£bn 

Credit risk

   

136.6 

 

127.2 

Market and counterparty risk

   

5.7 

 

5.3 

Operational risk

   

11.6 

 

10.1 

Total risk-weighted assets

   

  153.9 

 

142.6 

           

Risk asset ratios

         

Core tier 1

   

6.2% 

 

7.4% 

Tier 1

   

8.6

 

9.5% 

Total capital

   

11.3

 

11.0% 




19 .     Total assets by division

   

30 June 
2008 

 

30 June 
2007 

 

31 Dec 
2007 

   

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

             

UK Retail Banking

 

122,466 

 

112,705 

 

115,012 

Insurance and Investments

 

71,318 

 

88,183 

 

73,377 

Wholesale and International Banking

 

172,752 

 

151,371 

 

163,294 

Central group items

 

1,246 

 

836 

 

1,663 

Total assets

 

367,782 

 

353,095 

 

353,346 



20.     Discontinued businesses

Whilst not meeting the definition of a discontinued operation contained in International Financial Reporting Standard 5 ‘Non-Current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations’, to improve comparability of figures, the trading results of the businesses sold during 2007 have been excluded from the comparative results in the commentaries provided in this document. The impact of these businesses on the segmental analysis is set out below.

 

Insurance 

and 

Investments 

 

Wholesale 

and 

International 

Banking 

 

Total 

 

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

Half-year to 30 June 2007

         

Net interest income

27 

 

20 

 

47 

Other income

589 

 

86 

 

675 

Total income

616 

 

106 

 

722 

Insurance claims

(507)

 

 

(507)

Total income, net of insurance claims

109 

 

106 

 

215  

Operating expenses

(22)

 

(84)

 

(106 )

Profit before tax, excluding volatility

87  

 

22 

 

109  

Volatility   - insurance

32 

 

 

32 

                - policyholder interests

 

 

Profit before tax

124 

 

22 

 

146 

           

Half-year to 31 December 2007

         

Net interest income

14 

 

 

23 

Other income

141 

 

43 

 

184 

Total income

155 

 

52  

 

207 

Insurance claims

(98)

 

- 

 

(98)

Total income, net of insurance claims

57 

 

52  

 

109  

Operating expenses

(9 )

 

(46 )

 

(55 )

Profit before tax, excluding volatility

48 

 

 

54 

Volatility   - insurance

(22)

 

 

(22)

                - policyholder interests

(16)

 

 

(16)

Profit before tax

10 

 

 

16 




21 .      Economic profit

   

Half-year 
to 30 June 
2008 

 

Half-year 
to 30 June 
2007 

 

Half-year 
to 31 Dec 
2007 

   

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

             

Statutory basis

           

Average shareholders’ equity

 

11,573 

 

11,504 

 

11,855 

             

Profit attributable to equity shareholders

 

576  

 

1,540 

 

1,749 

Less: notional charge

 

(518)

 

(513)

 

(538)

Economic profit

 

58 

 

1,027 

 

1,211 

             

Continuing businesses, excluding volatility, a provision in respect of certain historic US dollar payments, profit on sale of businesses and the settlement of overdraft claims

           

Average shareholders’ equity

 

11,0 72  

 

11,281 

 

11,261 

             

Profit attributable to equity shareholders

 

1,10 9  

 

1,454 

 

1,285 

Less: notional charge

 

(496 )

 

(503)

 

(511)

Economic profit

 

61 3 

 

951 

 

774 



Economic profit represents the difference between the earnings on the equity invested in a business and the cost of the equity. The notional charge has been calculated by multiplying average shareholders’ equity by the cost of equity used by the Group of 9 per cent (2007: 9 per cent).

22.     Earnings per share

   

Half-year 
to 30 June 
2008 

 

Half-year 
to 30 June 
2007 

 

Half-year 
to 31 Dec 
2007 

             

Statutory basis

           
             

Basic

           

Profit attributable to equity shareholders

 

£ 576

 

£1,540m 

 

£1,749m 

Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue

 

5,649

 

5,634m 

 

5,640m 

Earnings per share

 

10.2

 

27.3p 

 

31.0p 

             

Fully diluted

           

Profit attributable to equity shareholders

 

£ 576

 

£1,540m 

 

£1,749m 

Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue

 

5,685

 

5,685m 

 

5,681m 

Earnings per share

 

10.1

 

27.1p 

 

30.8p 

             

Continuing businesses, excluding volatility, a provision in respect of certain historic US dollar payments, profit on sale of businesses and the settlement of overdraft claims

           

Profit attributable to equity shareholders

 

£ 1,109

 

£1,454

 

£1,285

Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue

 

5,649

 

5,634m 

 

5,640m 

Earnings per share

 

19.6

 

25.8p 

 

22.8p 




23.     Scottish Widows realistic balance sheet information

Financial Services Authority (FSA) returns for large with-profits companies include realistic balance sheet information. The information included in FSA returns concentrates on the position of the With Profit Fund. However, under the Scottish Widows demutualisation structure, which was court approved, the fund is underpinned by certain assets outside the With Profit Fund and it is more appropriate to consider the long-term fund position as a whole to measure the realistic capital position of Scottish Widows. The estimated position at 30 June 2008 is shown below, together with the actual position at 31 December 2007 .

30 June 2008 (estimated)

 

With Profit 
Fund 

 

Long Term 
Fund 

   

£ bn 

 

£ bn 

         

Available assets, including support arrangement assets

 

15.6 

 

18.6 

Realistic value of liabilities

 

(14.7)

 

(14.9)

Working capital for fund

 

0.9 

 

3.7 

         

Working capital ratio

 

5.6% 

 

19.9% 

         
         

31 December 2007

 

With Profit 
Fund 

 

Long Term 
Fund 

   

£bn 

 

£bn 

         

Available assets, including support arrangement assets

 

17.8 

 

21.0 

Realistic value of liabilities

 

(16.9)

 

(17.0)

Working capital for fund

 

0.9 

 

4.0 

         

Working capital ratio

 

5.3% 

 

19.2% 



The Risk Capital Margin (RCM) is the capital buffer that the FSA requires to be held to cover prescribed adverse shocks. At 30 June 2008, the RCM was estimated to be £77 million for the With Profit Fund and £99 million for the Long Term Fund (covered 11 times and 37 times respectively by the working capital for the fund). At 31 December 2007 , the RCM was £76 million for the With Profit Fund and £101 million for the Long Term Fund (covered 12  times and 40  times respectively).


24.     European Embedded Value reporting results for half-year to 30 June 2008

This section provides further details of the Scottish Widows EEV financial information.

 

Composition of EEV balance sheet

   

30 June 
2008 

 

30 June 
2007 

 

31 Dec 
2007 

   

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

             

Value of in-force business (certainty equivalent)

 

2,607 

 

2,975 

 

2,779 

Value of financial options and guarantees

 

(67)

 

(50)

 

(53)

Cost of capital

 

(196)

 

(220)

 

(178)

Non-market risk

 

(65)

 

(66)

 

(61)

Total value of in-force business

 

2,279 

 

2,639 

 

2,487 

Shareholders’ net assets

 

2,624 

 

2,782 

 

2,878 

EEV of covered business - continuing businesses

 

4,903 

 

5,421 

 

5,365 

EEV of Abbey Life

 

 

941 

 

Total EEV of covered business

 

4,903 

 

6,362 

 

5,365 



Reconciliation of opening EEV balance sheet to closing EEV balance sheet on covered business

 

Shareholders’ net assets 

 

Value of 

in-force 
business 

 

Total  

   

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

             

As at 1 January 2007

 

3,572 

 

2,841 

 

6,413 

Total profit after tax - Continuing businesses

 

192 

 

253 

 

445 

                                - Discontinued businesses

 

55 

 

37 

 

92 

Dividends

 

(588)

 

 

(588)

As at 30 June 2007

 

3,231 

 

3,131 

 

6,362 

Total profit (loss) after tax - Continuing businesses

 

388 

 

(151)

 

237 

                                         - Discontinued businesses

 

26 

 

(32)

 

(6)

Profit on disposal of Abbey Life (EEV basis)

           

  Sale proceeds

 

985 

 

 

985 

  Assets disposed

 

(474)

 

(461)

 

(935)

   

511 

 

(461)

 

50 

Dividends

 

(1,278)

 

 

(1,278)

As at 31 December 2007

 

2,878 

 

2,487 

 

5,365 

Total loss after tax

 

(34)

 

(208)

 

(242)

Dividends

 

(220)

 

 

(220)

As at 30 June 2008

 

2,624 

 

2,279 

 

4,903 




24.     European Embedded Value reporting results for half-year to 30 June 2008 (continued)

Analysis of shareholders’ net assets on an EEV basis on covered business

 

   

Required 

capital  

 

Free 

surplus 

Shareholders’  

net assets 

   

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

             

As at 1 January 2007

 

2,207 

 

1,365 

 

3,572 

Total profit (loss) after tax  - Continuing businesses

 

26 

 

166 

 

192 

                                          - Discontinued businesses

 

(38)

 

93 

 

55 

Dividends

 

 

(588)

 

(588)

As at 30 June 200 7

 

2,195 

 

1,036 

 

3,231 

Total (loss)  profit after tax - Continuing businesses

 

(240)

 

628 

 

388 

                                          - Discontinued businesses

 

14 

 

12 

 

26 

Disposal of Abbey Life (EEV basis)

 

(232)

 

743 

 

511 

Dividends

 

 

(1,278)

 

(1,278)

As at 31 December 2007

 

1,737 

 

1,141 

 

2,878 

Total (loss) profit after tax

 

(61)

 

27 

 

(34)

Dividends

 

 

(220)

 

(220)

As at 30 June 2008

 

1,676 

 

948 

 

2,624



Summary income statement on an EEV basis – Continuing businesses

 

   

Half-year 
to 30 June 
2008 

 

Half-year 
to 30 June 
2007 

 

Half-year 
to 31 Dec 
2007 

   

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

             

New business profit

 

160 

 

180 

 

146 

Existing business profit

           

- Expected return

 

158 

 

146 

 

150 

- Experience variances

 

 

 

38 

- Assumption changes

 

24 

 

(8)

 

(24)

   

182 

 

141 

 

164 

Expected return on shareholders’ net assets

 

75 

 

94 

 

93 

Profit before tax, excluding volatility and other items*

 

417 

 

415 

 

403 

Volatility

 

(774)

 

 

(290)

Other items*

 

19 

 

38 

 

20 

Total (loss) profit before tax

 

(338)

 

456 

 

133 

Taxation

 

96 

 

(137)

 

108 

Impact of Corporation tax rate change

 

 

126 

 

(4)

Total (loss) profit after tax – continuing businesses

 

(242)

 

445 

 

237 

             


*Other items represent amounts not considered attributable to the underlying performance of the business.


24.     European Embedded Value reporting results for half-year to 30 June 2008 (continued)

Breakdown of income statement between life and pensions, and OEICs – Continuing businesses

 

   

Life and 

pensions  

 

OEICS  

 

Total  

   

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

             

Half-year to 30 June 2008

           

New business profit

 

138 

 

22 

 

160 

Existing business

           

- Expected return

 

130 

 

28 

 

158 

- Experience variances

 

(7)

 

 

- Assumption changes

 

(3)

 

27 

 

24 

   

120 

 

62 

 

182 

Expected return on shareholders’ net assets

 

71 

 

 

7

Profit before tax*

 

329 

 

88 

 

417 

             

New business margin (PVNBP)

 

3.6% 

 

1.4% 

 

3.0% 

Post-tax return on embedded value*

         

11.7% 

             

Half-year to 30 June 2007

           

New business profit

 

141 

 

39 

 

180 

Existing business

           

- Expected return

 

122 

 

24 

 

146 

- Experience variances

 

(9)

 

12 

 

3 

- Assumption changes

 

(45)

 

37 

 

(8)

   

68 

 

73 

 

141 

Expected return on shareholders’ net assets

 

90 

 

 

94 

Profit before tax*

 

299 

 

116 

 

415 

             

New business margin (PVNBP)

 

3.6% 

 

2.6% 

 

3.4% 

Post-tax return on embedded value*

         

10.8% 

             

Half-year to 31 Dec 2007

           

New business profit

 

129 

 

17 

 

146 

Existing business

           

- Expected return

 

123 

 

27 

 

150 

- Experience variances

 

 

31 

 

38 

- Assumption changes

 

(47)

 

23 

 

(24)

   

83 

 

81 

 

164 

Expected return on shareholders’ net assets

 

89 

 

 

93 

Profit before tax*

 

301 

 

102 

 

403 

             

New business margin (PVNBP)

 

3.4% 

 

1.3% 

 

2.9% 

Post-tax return on embedded value*

         

10.4% 

             


*Excluding volatility and other items.


24.     European Embedded Value reporting results for half-year to 30 June 2008 (continued)

Economic assumptions

A bottom up approach is used to determine the economic assumptions for valuing the business in order to determine a market consistent valuation.

 

The risk-free rate assumed in valuing in-force business is 10 basis points over the 15 year gilt yield. In valuing financial options and guarantees the risk-free rate is derived from gilt yields plus 10 basis points, in line with Scottish Widows’ FSA realistic balance sheet assumptions. The table below shows the range of resulting yields and other key assumptions.

   

30 June 
2008 

 

30 June 
2007 

 

31 Dec 
2007 

   

%  

 

 

             

Risk-free rate (value of in-force)

 

5.28 

 

5.44 

 

4.65 

Risk-free rate (financial options and guarantees)

 

4.24 to 5.37 

 

4.39 to 6.29 

 

4.28 to 4.81 

Retail price inflation

 

3.99 

 

3.44 

 

3.28 

Expense inflation

 

4.89 

 

4.34 

 

4.18 



Non-economic assumptions

Future mortality, morbidity, lapse and paid-up rate assumptions are reviewed each year and are based on an analysis of past experience and on management’s view of future experience. These assumptions are intended to represent a best estimate of future experience.

For OEIC business, recent lapse assumption experience has been collected over a period that has coincided with favourable investment conditions. Management have used a best estimate of the long-term lapse assumption which is higher than indicated by this experience. In management’s view, the approach and lapse assumption are both reasonable.

Non-market risk

An allowance for non-market risk is made through the choice of best estimate assumptions based upon experience, which generally will give the mean expected financial outcome for shareholders and hence no further allowance for non-market risk is required. However, in the case of operational risk and the With Profit Fund these are asymmetric in the range of potential outcomes for which an explicit allowance is made.

 

 


25.      Scottish Widows weighted sales (Annual Premium Equivalent)

   

Half-year 
to 30 June 
2008 

 

Half-year 
to 30 June 
2007 

 

Half-year 
to 31 Dec 
2007 

   

£m 

 

£m 

 

£m 

             

Weighted sales (regular + 1/10 single)

           

Life and pensions:

           

Savings and investments

 

25 

 

50 

 

39 

Protection

 

64 

 

60 

 

57 

Individual pensions

 

163 

 

143 

 

130 

Corporate and other pensions

 

203 

 

167 

 

185 

Retirement income

 

50 

 

51 

 

50 

Managed fund business

 

13 

 

34 

 

13 

Life and pensions

 

518 

 

505 

 

474 

OEICs

 

167 

 

160 

 

137 

Life, pensions and OEICs

 

685 

 

665 

 

611 

             

Bancassurance

 

260 

 

239 

 

219 

Independent financial advisers

 

388 

 

370 

 

363 

Direct

 

37 

 

56 

 

29 

Life, pensions and OEICs

 

685 

 

665 

 

611 



26 .     Dividend

An interim dividend for 2008 of 11.4p (2007: 11.2p), representing an increase of 2 per cent, will be paid on October 2008. The total amount of this dividend is £648 million.

Shareholders who have already joined the dividend reinvestment plan will automatically receive shares instead of the cash dividend. Key dates for the payment of the dividend are:

 

Shares quoted ex-dividend

6 August 2008

Record date

8 August 2008

Final date for joining or leaving the dividend reinvestment plan

3 September 2008

Interim dividend paid

1 October 2008



On 7 May 2008, a final dividend for 2007 of 24.7p per share was paid to shareholders. This dividend totalled £1,394 million.

 

27 .     Other information

The financial information included in this news release does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. Statutory accounts for the year ended 31 December 2007 were delivered to the Registrar of Companies following publication on 29 March 2008. The auditors’ report on these accounts was unqualified and did not include a statement under sections 237(2) (accounting records or returns inadequate or accounts not agreeing with records and returns) or 237(3) (failure to obtain necessary information and explanations) of the Companies Act 1985.


contacts

For further information please contact:-

Michael Oliver

Director of Investor Relations

Lloyds TSB Group plc

020 7356 2167

email: michael.oliver@ltsb-finance.co.uk

 

Douglas Radcliffe

Senior Manager, Investor Relations

Lloyds TSB Group plc

020 7356 1571

email: douglas.radcliffe@ltsb-finance.co.uk

 

Leigh Calder

Senior Manager, Media Relations

Lloyds TSB Group plc

020 7356 1347

email: leigh.calder@lloydstsb.co.uk

 

Amy Mankelow

Senior Manager, Media Relations

020 7356 1497

email: amy.mankelow@lloydstsb.co.uk

 

Copies of this news release may be obtained from Investor Relations, Lloyds TSB Group plc, 25 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HN. The full news release can also be found on the Group’s website - www.lloydstsb.com.

 

 

A copy of the Group’s corporate responsibility report may be obtained by writing to Corporate Responsibility, Lloyds TSB 
Group plc, 25 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HN. This information together with the Group’s code of business conduct is also available on the Group’s website.

Registered office: Lloyds TSB Group plc, Henry Duncan House, 120 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4LH. Registered in Scotland no. 95000.

 

 

 

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                                                                                          LLOYDS TSB GROUP plc
                                                                                                (Registrant)

 

                                                                                                                               By:          M D Oliver

                                                                                                                               Name:     M D Oliver

                                                                                                                               Title:        Director of Investor Relations

 

Date:     30 July 2008